The Town FilesHelen, Minnesota
Township in McLeod County · population 833 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $396,900
- Household income
- $107,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 42.5
Helen is a township of 833 people in McLeod County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $396,900, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better transit than 93% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 84% of Minnesota towns, better for cycling than 77% of Minnesota towns.
How Helen ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helen is worth $396,900, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $107,083, which is more affordable than 34% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,313 a month. 94.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helen | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $396,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $991 |
| Median household income | $107,083 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Helen
| People | Helen | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 90.2% |
Weather in Helen
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helen since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 6, 1965 about 3.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 175 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 21, 2005.
Severe weather in McLeod County since 1996
McLeod County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in McLeod County
McLeod County had 15,697 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,991 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Helen itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Helen
- Glencoe, MN4.2 mi · 5,744 people · home $227,900
- Green Isle, MN4.6 mi · 518 people · home $401,700
- Hamburg, MN5.4 mi · 566 people · home $239,900
- Young America, MN5.7 mi · 683 people · home $463,600
- Green Isle, MN5.9 mi · 591 people · home $200,700
- Glencoe, MN6.0 mi · 514 people · home $338,900
- Bergen, MN6.3 mi · 910 people · home $389,200
- Norwood Young America, MN7.6 mi · 3,863 people · home $299,300
Helen questions
Is Helen, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helen scores better for retirees than 9% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 71%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Helen?
The median owner-occupied home in Helen is valued at $396,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,083, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,313 a month.
What is the weather like in Helen?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 47.0 inches of snow.
Does Helen get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helen since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)