Helena: Demographics & People
1,557 people call Helena home, in 136 households. Population grew 4.7% from 1,487 (2022) to 1,557 (2024). Median age 48.1 years. (3.5y older than Alfalfa County; 12.9y older than Oklahoma). Children under 18 are 4% of the population. Population is 56% White (non-Hispanic) and 13% Black. The community is moderately diverse (Simpson index 0.42). 69% of households are family-led. County health: 38% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 11.4 people per household (vs Oklahoma avg 2.6).
- 31% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Oklahoma 39%).
- 26 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Oklahoma 67).
Population & Trend
Population grew 4.7% from 1,487 (2022) to 1,557 (2024) — about 7.9× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~1,631 (extrapolated at 2.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,733.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 5,699 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 4.7% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,487 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,557 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 1,557 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Population Estimate | 1,733 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 48.1y is 9.2 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 4% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 48.1 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 3.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,557 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 57 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 80.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,156.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 264 |
| Population under 18 | 57 |
| Median age | 48.1 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,557 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.42 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as moderately diverse.
| White residents | 848 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 193 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 113 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 42.2% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | moderately diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 73.5% |
| Black population | 13.0% (vs Oklahoma 5.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 8.9% (vs Oklahoma 12.3%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 55.6% (vs Oklahoma 57.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 1% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 975 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 549 |
| Share born in this state | 62.6% |
| Share born in another state | 37.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 35.3% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.4% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 79 |
| From Africa | 11 |
Households & Family Composition
136 households. Averaging 2.7 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 69% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 80 families, 35% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 69 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 80 |
| Married couples with children | 28 |
| Average household size | 2.69 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 3.4% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 6 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 1 |
| Family households | 94 households (vs Oklahoma 16,590) |
| Households that are families | 69.1% (vs Oklahoma 61.1%) |
| Total households | 136 households (vs Oklahoma 23,671) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 22.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%.
| Moved within the county (past year) | 22.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 3,912 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 3,873 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 39 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 101 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 27.1% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,215 residents live in group quarters (78.0% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,215 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 3 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 40003 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 003 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Alfalfa |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 24.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 15.10 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 37.50 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 40003 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Alfalfa County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 86 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 40003 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Alfalfa County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 53.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 47.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 51.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 5,702 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 1.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 3.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | limited |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,557, growing, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,557 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
| Town Summary · County | Alfalfa County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade