The Town FilesHelena, Michigan
Township in Antrim County · population 937 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,000
- Household income
- $72,228
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 122 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 59.5
Helena is a township of 937 people in Antrim County, Michigan. The median home is worth $382,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Helena ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helena is worth $382,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $72,228, which is more affordable than 2% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $803 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $803 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,228 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 30.9% | — |
Who lives in Helena
| People | Helena | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 37.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Helena
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 121.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 1964 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Antrim County since 1996
Antrim County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Antrim County
Antrim County had 5,128 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,968 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Helena itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Helena
- Milton, MI3.7 mi · 2,355 people · home $528,000
- Rapid City, MI4.2 mi · 1,357 people · home $214,700
- Custer, MI5.3 mi · 1,150 people · home $237,200
- Clearwater, MI5.9 mi · 2,497 people · home $218,000
- Bellaire, MI6.0 mi · 1,053 people · home $230,100
- Forest Home, MI6.1 mi · 1,675 people · home $307,300
- Elk Rapids, MI6.5 mi · 2,521 people · home $401,100
- Elk Rapids, MI6.7 mi · 1,529 people · home $393,400
Helena questions
Is Helena, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena scores better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns and quieter than 71%. 37.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.5).
How much does a house cost in Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena is valued at $382,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,228, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $803 a month.
What is the weather like in Helena?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 121.8 inches of snow.
Does Helena get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 8, 1964. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)