Helena, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 975, Helena's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Helena is a small community located in Mississippi, within Jackson County. The total population is 975. It ranks as the 198th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Helena is 54.6 years. This is 41% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 11.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 11.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Helena is $101,750. This is 80% higher than the state median of $56,447. It is also 26% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 47% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 1.7%. This is 71% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $189,600. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $169,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Helena is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 91.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Helena is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.8% of the population. Asian residents account for 17.4%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 36.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (17.4% vs 1.0%).

Education

10.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 73.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Helena, Mississippi is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Mississippi state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.