AL area data
Helena, AL
Helena, AL.
Population: 20,251 (Census ACS)
The median home value in Helena, AL is $344,991 — up 2.2% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $332,500 after a median 46.5 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,944/month. 4 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with lightning, tornado, coldwave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.1% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$344,991
Median home value
+2.2%
1-year change
46.5
Median days on market
Relatively Moderate
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $344,991
- 1-year appreciation
- +2.2%
- 3-year appreciation
- +2.7%
- 5-year appreciation
- +20.5%
- 10-year appreciation
- +70.1%
- All-time peak (2026-07)
- $344,991
- House Price Index (state)
- 370.8 (+2.6% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $332,500
- Median list price
- $384,900
- Median price per sqft
- $180
- 1-year sale-price change
- -1.7%
- Median days on market
- 46.5 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 100
- For-sale inventory
- 99
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 98.8%
- Active listings
- 105
- 1-year forecast
- +0.4%
- Days to pending
- 35 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 38
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,944/mo
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,440/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,620/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,780/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $2,230/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $2,530/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Low)
- 87.9 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 16.1¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $17.60/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 4
- Elementary schools
- 2
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 1
- Schools include
- Helena Elementary School, Helena Intermediate School, Helena Middle, Helena High School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Moderate
- Top hazards (county)
- lightning, tornado, coldWave, heatWave, iceStorm
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Low · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · hurricane: Relatively Low
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 70% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 57.0%
- Radon potential (county)
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- 35th Avenue (21.5 mi — proposed for listing)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 65.0°F
- Average high
- 75.0°F
- Average low
- 54.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 57.8 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 40
- Days with Good air quality
- 207
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 34
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 108
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 7.2 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 40,784
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 33,592
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 1
- Nearest national park
- Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (19 mi)
- Airports within 30 mi
- 10
- Nearest airport
- Bessemer Airport (4 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Shelby County Airport (9 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 8
- Hospitals include
- SHELBY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER, CALLAHAN EYE HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HOSPITAL
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 2.8 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
- 24
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (4.5 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +661 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 2,000
- Housing built before 1970
- 4.4%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 48.7%
- Median annual property tax
- $1,303
- Mean commute to work
- 26 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 84.5%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 76,661
- Average weekly wage
- $1,271
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Finance & Insurance, Accommodation & Food
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 954
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| Helena | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $344,991 | $202,644 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $332,500 | $247,500 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 47 days | 66 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,944/mo | $1,419/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $1,303 | $514 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in Helena, AL?
- $344,991.
- What is the median sale price in Helena, AL?
- $332,500.
- How long do homes take to sell in Helena, AL?
- Median days on market: 46.5 days.
- What is typical rent in Helena, AL?
- Typical rent: $1,944/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in Helena, AL?
- Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: lightning, tornado, coldWave, heatWave, iceStorm.
- Is Helena, AL in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in Helena, AL?
- Risk to homes is higher than 70% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in Helena, AL?
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near Helena, AL?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve Helena, AL?
- 4 schools (2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is Helena, AL walkable?
- Walkability index: 7.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in Helena, AL?
- Good. Median AQI: 40. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in Helena, AL?
- Regional Price Parity: 87.9 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
ZIP code for Helena
Selling a home in Helena, AL?
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →