The Town FilesHelper, Utah
City in Carbon County · population 2,112 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,800
- Household income
- $56,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.4
Helper is a city of 2,112 people in Carbon County, Utah. The median home is worth $209,800, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). It ranks better for retirees than 85% of Utah towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Utah towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of Utah towns.
How Helper ranks
Percentile among Utah towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Utah towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helper is worth $209,800, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $56,875, which is more affordable than 89% of Utah towns. Median rent is $846 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helper | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,800 | $457,300 |
| Median rent | $846 | $1,395 |
| Median household income | $56,875 | $93,194 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.6% | 81.7% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1991 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Helper
| People | Helper | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 34.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 13.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 31.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 6.5% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 29.8 min | 22.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 94.3% |
Weather in Helper
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 8.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.7 inches of snow (typical Utah town: 45.4 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Helper since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Utah town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 25, 2001 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Carbon County since 1996
Carbon County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4525: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3478: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3223: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| April 30, 1983 | Flood | DR-680: Severe Storms, Landslides & Flooding |
| January 20, 1977 | Drought | EM-3024: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Carbon County
Carbon County had 8,653 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,378 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Helper itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Helper
2 public schools with 490 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sally Mauro School | PK-5 | 303 | 16.8 |
| Helper Middle | 6-8 | 187 | 15.6 |
Towns near Helper
- Spring Glen, UT2.4 mi · 1,054 people · home $282,600
- Carbonville, UT4.6 mi · 1,383 people · home $336,400
- West Wood, UT5.9 mi · 1,066 people · home $455,700
- Price, UT6.7 mi · 8,216 people · home $225,600
- Wellington, UT12.5 mi · 1,605 people · home $179,500
- East Carbon, UT25.3 mi · 1,556 people · home $90,000
- Huntington, UT25.4 mi · 1,914 people · home $199,100
Helper questions
Is Helper, Utah a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helper scores better for retirees than 85% of Utah towns and quieter than 77%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Helper?
The median owner-occupied home in Helper is valued at $209,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,875, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $846 a month.
What is the weather like in Helper?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.4 inches of precipitation a year and 8.7 inches of snow.
Does Helper get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Helper since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 25, 2001. The typical Utah town has had 2.
- 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)