Helena: Demographics & People
Census counts 21,769 people in Helena, in 7,613 households. Population grew 1.5% from 21,452 (2022) to 21,769 (2024). Median age 37.8 years. (2.5y younger than Shelby County; 1.5y younger than Alabama). Children under 18 are 28% of the population. Population is 70% White (non-Hispanic) and 18% Black. 78% of households are family-led. County is losing 8,344 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.9 people per household (vs Alabama avg 2.5).
- 22% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Alabama 39%).
- 67 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Alabama 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 1.5% from 21,452 (2022) to 21,769 (2024) — about 2.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~22,092 (extrapolated at 0.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 22,528.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| County Population | 674,721 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 1.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 21,452 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 21,769 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 21,769 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Population Estimate | 22,528 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.8y is 1.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 28% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 37.8 years (vs Alabama 37.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 27.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 21,769 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 6,013 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 4,091 |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 8,925 |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,740 |
| Population under 18 | 6,013 |
| Median age | 37.8 years (vs Alabama 37.3y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 21,769 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 15,632 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 3,806 |
| Asian residents | 278 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 973 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 44.9% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 2.5% (vs Alabama 1.4%) |
| Black population | 18.0% (vs Alabama 28.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 4.7% (vs Alabama 4.8%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 70.0% (vs Alabama 57.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Sources: Census ACS 2022 B04006+B03001+B02001
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.5% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 13,720 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 6,856 |
| Share born in this state | 63.0% |
| Share born in another state | 37.0% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 31.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 50.0% |
| Naturalized citizens | 5.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 577 |
| From Europe | 48 |
| From Africa | 256 |
Households & Family Composition
7,613 households. Averaging 2.8 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 78% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 5,667 families, 42% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 5,941 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 5,667 |
| Married couples with children | 2,373 |
| Single-parent households | 114 |
| Average household size | 2.84 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 10.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 304 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 3 |
| Family households | 5,929 households (vs Alabama 7,066) |
| Households that are families | 77.9% (vs Alabama 61.2%) |
| Total households | 7,613 households (vs Alabama 10,925) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 5.9% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 8,344 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 5.9% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 534,384 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 542,728 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -8,344 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 713 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 3.4% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 41 residents live in group quarters (0.2% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 41 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 106 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 01073 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 01 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 073 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · County | Jefferson |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 22.1 per 1,000 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 21.00 |
| County Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 23.20 |
| County Cdc Mortality · Fips | 01073 |
| County Cdc Mortality · County | Jefferson County |
| County Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Large central metro |
| County Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 39,489 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 01073 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · County | Jefferson County |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 75.2% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 61.4% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 43.5% |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 658,573 |
| County Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.20 |
| Family Score · Schools | 4 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 4 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 27.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 21,769, growing, family-oriented, affluent, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 21,769 people (vs Alabama 26,673) |
| Town Summary · County | Jefferson County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade