The Town FilesHelena, Minnesota
Township in Scott County · population 1,795 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $569,400
- Household income
- $156,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 49.8
Helena is a township of 1,795 people in Scott County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $569,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 86% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Helena 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 Helena is worth $569,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $156,000, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 98.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $569,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $991 |
| Median household income | $156,000 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 98.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Helena
| People | Helena | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 20.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Helena
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 5.3°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.8 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 21, 1977 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 19, 1956.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 63,111 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,133 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Helena itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Towns near Helena
- New Prague, MN3.1 mi · 8,162 people · home $350,500
- Sand Creek, MN5.5 mi · 1,497 people · home $521,500
- Belle Plaine, MN5.7 mi · 863 people · home $562,000
- Jordan, MN5.8 mi · 6,656 people · home $336,200
- Lanesburgh, MN6.3 mi · 1,997 people · home $434,800
- Cedar Lake, MN6.4 mi · 3,050 people · home $543,100
- Derrynane, MN8.0 mi · 532 people · home $423,800
- Spring Lake, MN8.4 mi · 3,464 people · home $629,600
Helena questions
Is Helena, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena scores better for retirees than 28% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 23%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena is valued at $569,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $156,000, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Helena?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 5.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.8 inches of snow.
Does Helena get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 21, 1977. 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)