Skip to main content

St. Helens, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, St. Helens, Oregon had a total population of 14,258, the 47th largest city in Oregon, with a median household income of $82,865, which is about the same as the state average. The poverty rate is 10.0%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

St. Helens Quick Facts

Population 14,258
Median Household Income $82,865
Median Home Value $394,200
Poverty Rate 10.0%
Unemployment Rate 3.6%
Median Age 39.8 years
Homeownership Rate 62.0%
Affordability Ratio 4.8x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.9%
High School Graduation Rate 89.8%
Diversity Index 33/100
Population 14,258 47th of 420
Median Income $82,865 above average
Poverty Rate 10.0% 20% lower than national
Median Home Value $394,200 average

How St. Helens Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population14,15214,258+0.7%
Median household income$82,123$82,865+0.9%
Median home value$350,900$394,200+12.3%

How St. Helens Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.9%
$25K-$50K 14.3%
$50K-$100K 36.5%
$100K+ 37.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
3.3%
$10K-$15K
3.7%
$15K-$20K
2.7%
$20K-$25K
2.2%
$25K-$30K
1.4%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
5.0%
$40K-$45K
1.3%
$45K-$50K
2.4%
$50K-$60K
8.6%
$60K-$75K
10.2%
$75K-$100K
17.7%
$100K-$125K
14.1%
$125K-$150K
7.2%
$150K-$200K
9.6%
$200K+
6.5%

Employment

3.6% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%
58.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 62.0%
Renter 38.0%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,413/mo 20.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

33out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

St. Helens Rankings in Oregon

#47 Population of 420
#146 Median Income of 379
#267 Education of 420
#170 Home Value of 381

Other Cities in Columbia County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Scappoose 8,179 $97,708 7.2% $455,700
Vernonia 2,786 $83,411 10.0% $351,900
Clatskanie 2,364 $90,709 11.1% $363,900
Rainier 2,130 $66,989 18.3% $344,700
Columbia City 2,006 $96,750 9.4% $460,000
Warren 1,637 $126,838 1.2% $523,400
Deer Island 199 N/A 9.0% N/A
Prescott 34 $105,000 8.8% $316,700

Cities Similar to St. Helens

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Cornelius14,255$96,273$452,90018.9%9.1%
Troutdale15,923$89,337$456,10029.1%7.4%
Oatfield13,294$103,224$569,00035.6%9.8%
Oak Grove16,796$86,226$515,70043.6%8.4%
Four Corners16,275$69,669$340,20010.3%13.9%

Population Overview

St. Helens is a small city located in Oregon, within Columbia County. The total population is 14,258. It ranks as the 47th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in St. Helens is 39.8 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 40.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in St. Helens is $82,865. This is about the same as the state median of $83,011. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $394,200. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 62.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in St. Helens is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.3%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

16.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for St. Helens, Oregon 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 Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Oregon. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all Oregon city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of St. Helens, Oregon?

St. Helens, Oregon has a population of 14,258 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in St. Helens, OR?

The median household income in St. Helens is $82,865, which is 3% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in St. Helens, OR?

The poverty rate in St. Helens is 10.0%. This means approximately 1,384 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of St. Helens, Oregon?

St. Helens's population is 80.7% White, 0.1% Black, 9.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.

What is the median home value in St. Helens, OR?

The median home value in St. Helens is $394,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x.

How educated is St. Helens, Oregon?

16.9% of adults (25+) in St. Helens hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.