The Town FilesHelena, Mississippi
Community in Jackson County · population 983 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $189,600
- Household income
- $101,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 54.6
Helena is a community of 983 people in Jackson County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $189,600, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks quieter than 100% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 78% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 72% of Mississippi towns.
How Helena ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helena is worth $189,600, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $101,750, which is more affordable than 90% of Mississippi towns. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $189,600 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $101,750 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Helena
| People | Helena | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.6 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 12.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Helena
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 40.9°F. About 61.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 27 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 19, 2023 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 17, 2023.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 51,303 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Helena itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Towns near Helena
- Escatawpa, MS2.3 mi · 3,254 people · home $107,900
- Moss Point, MS4.6 mi · 12,147 people · home $110,100
- Big Point, MS7.2 mi · 618 people · home $161,200
- Pascagoula, MS9.3 mi · 22,010 people · home $144,700
- Grand Bay, AL9.7 mi · 3,460 people · home $142,400
- Wade, MS10.2 mi · 996 people · home $218,300
- Vancleave, MS10.8 mi · 5,592 people · home $247,400
- Gautier, MS10.8 mi · 19,024 people · home $166,400
Helena questions
Is Helena, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena scores better for retirees than 72% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 100%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.6).
How much does a house cost in Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena is valued at $189,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,750, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Helena?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 40.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Helena get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 19, 2023. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)