The Town FilesHelena, Oklahoma
Town in Alfalfa County · population 1,537 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $66,700
- Household income
- $61,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 48.1
Helena is a town of 1,537 people in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $66,700, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Oklahoma towns, quieter than 94% of Oklahoma towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Oklahoma towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Oklahoma
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Oklahoma
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Oklahoma
- #17 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Oklahoma
- #20 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Oklahoma
- #20 in 25 Small Towns in Oklahoma With the Cheapest Homes
How Helena ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helena is worth $66,700, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $61,500, which is more affordable than 99% of Oklahoma towns. 85.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $66,700 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | — | $830 |
| Median household income | $61,500 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 85.3% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Helena
| People | Helena | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 3.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.7% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 86.0% |
Weather in Helena
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.7 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 2, 1979 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 19, 2007.
Severe weather in Alfalfa County since 1996
Alfalfa County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| December 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Alfalfa County
Alfalfa County had 1,202 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,949 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Helena itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Helena
1 public school with 70 students, about 7.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIMBERLAKE HS | 9-12 | 70 | 7.8 |
Towns near Helena
- Lahoma, OK14.9 mi · 539 people · home $94,600
- Cherokee, OK14.9 mi · 1,476 people · home $96,600
- Fairview, OK22.2 mi · 2,740 people · home $131,300
- North Enid, OK23.7 mi · 1,003 people · home $183,200
- Enid, OK24.3 mi · 51,308 people · home $154,900
- Waukomis, OK27.3 mi · 1,349 people · home $149,000
- Pond Creek, OK27.4 mi · 885 people · home $153,300
- Alva, OK27.5 mi · 5,028 people · home $133,600
Helena questions
Is Helena, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena scores better for retirees than 95% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 94%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena is valued at $66,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,500, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Helena?
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 12.7 inches of snow.
Does Helena get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 2, 1979. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- 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)