Helena, South Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 716, 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 South Carolina, within Newberry County. The total population is 716. It ranks as the 309th most populous out of 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Helena is 51.2 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 10.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Helena is $38,651. This is 44% lower than the state median of $69,324. It is also 52% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.2%. This is 72% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 75% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $157,300. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $259,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 60.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% lower than the state average of 71.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Helena has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 94.8% of all residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 4.9%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 61.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (94.8% vs 24.6%).

Education

19.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 32.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 68.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Helena, South Carolina 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 South Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 474 Census-designated places in South Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.