Helena, Alabama Income Statistics
Helena Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
Helena Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Helena | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $114,605 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $73,003 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 18.9% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 18.4% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Helena is about 78% higher than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Helena (3.8%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 19% of adults in Helena earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Alabama average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Helena, Alabama grew by 58.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $114,605 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Helena has been far above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2020, its income was 34% higher. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Income Distribution in Helena
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 5,287 households (58.5% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 10.6% of households in Helena had an income under $35,000 and 34.2% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Helena has a larger share of households earning $100,000 to $149,999 (24.2% vs 17.4%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (6.0% vs 10.1%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 188 | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 76 | 0.8% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 200 | 2.2% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 499 | 5.5% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 538 | 6.0% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 1,250 | 13.8% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 1,006 | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 2,193 | 24.2% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 1,427 | 15.8% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 1,667 | 18.4% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 9,045 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 3,733 residents (18.9% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 20.9% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 9.7% of Helena residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 22.3% had some income but less than $25,000, and 31.3% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Helena has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (18.9% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $15,000 to $24,999 (6.6% vs 10.5%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 1,918 | 9.7% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 2,187 | 11.1% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 928 | 4.7% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,297 | 6.6% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,515 | 7.7% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 1,954 | 9.9% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,776 | 19.1% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,458 | 12.4% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 3,733 | 18.9% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 19,764 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 9.7% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Helena
| Metric | Helena | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.504 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $90,395 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $64,399 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.8% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Helena, it is 0.504, lower than Alabama's 0.560, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 40% more than women's income in Helena, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $909,860 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Helena, Alabama has widened from about 19% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,934 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Helena widened by 9.5 points while Alabama's narrowed by 1.8 points.
Employment
| Metric | Helena | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 20.1% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 244 people are unemployed in Helena, Alabama.
The average commute time in Helena is 31 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Helena, Alabama has fallen from 5.3% to 1.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.6% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.5% in 2022.
Helena has been far below the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024. Even at its closest, in 2018, its rate was 3.1 points lower. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Helena, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Helena, AL is the smallest of the 4 cities compared here, 25,213 residents against a local median of 31,804. The measure that sets Helena, AL apart most is unemployment: 1.8%, 43% below the local median of 3.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $114,605 against a local median of $93,951, 22% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Helena, AL is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The cities themselves spread 3.9% on unemployment, so Helena, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Helena, AL has the lowest unemployment of the 4 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena, AL | 25,213 | $114,605 #1/4 | 3.8%/yr #3/4 | 1.8% #1/4 | 0.504 #1/4 |
| Alabaster, AL | 27,859 | $93,951 | 3.9%/yr | 2.5% | 0.521 |
| Hoover, AL | 75,120 | $98,247 | 3.9%/yr | 3.2% | 0.512 |
| Bessemer, AL | 31,804 | $47,171 | 3.3%/yr | 6.4% | 0.560 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Helena, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it far better than Alabama, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Helena, Alabama.
How Rich Is Helena, Alabama?
Helena has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $114,605, about 78% higher than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Helena, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Helena, Alabama rose 59%, from $72,250 to $114,605. Over the same years, income here outpaced Alabama as a whole: +59% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Helena in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Helena, Alabama was $108,155, up 2% from $106,167 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Helena in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Helena, Alabama was $86,567. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $114,605.
Do many residents of Helena, Alabama earn over $100,000?
Yes. 19% of adults in Helena, Alabama earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 5), against 10% (about 1 in 10) in Alabama. 18% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 8% in Alabama.
How strong is the job market in Helena, Alabama?
Unemployment in Helena, Alabama is only 1.8%, well below the Alabama rate of 4.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Helena, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Helena is 0.504. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Helena, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Helena, Alabama has widened from about 19% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $14,934 since 2009.
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