The Town FilesHelena, South Carolina
Community in Newberry County · population 870 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,300
- Household income
- $38,651
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 51.2
Helena is a community of 870 people in Newberry County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $157,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of South Carolina towns, better for families than 83% of South Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of South Carolina towns.
How Helena ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helena is worth $157,300, below the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $38,651, which is more affordable than 30% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 60.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $931 | $937 |
| Median household income | $38,651 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Helena
| People | Helena | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.2 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 10.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 1.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 87.8% |
Weather in Helena
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 31.1°F. About 46.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 15, 2008 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 6, 2022.
Severe weather in Newberry County since 1996
Newberry County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Newberry County
Newberry County had 14,366 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,024 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Helena itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Helena
- Newberry, SC2.5 mi · 10,691 people · home $142,400
- Prosperity, SC8.1 mi · 1,178 people · home $152,200
- Joanna, SC12.9 mi · 1,517 people · home $88,100
- Whitmire, SC15.5 mi · 1,390 people · home $53,500
- Clinton, SC18.2 mi · 7,633 people · home $173,400
- Chapin, SC19.2 mi · 1,809 people · home $221,000
- Saluda, SC20.6 mi · 3,122 people · home $77,700
- Ninety Six, SC22.9 mi · 2,076 people · home $121,000
Helena questions
Is Helena, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena scores better for retirees than 74% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 66%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.2).
How much does a house cost in Helena?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena is valued at $157,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,651, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Helena?
July highs average 91.4°F and January lows 31.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Helena get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 15, 2008. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- 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)