Helena: Economy & Jobs
$61,500 is the median household income in Helena (about the same as Alfalfa County median $64,615; 1.1× below Oklahoma median $65,039), with homes at a median value of $66,700. The surrounding county supports 1,202 jobs (avg $50,949).
- $64,195 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Oklahoma $74,344).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $61,500 — near the Oklahoma median ($62,125). Poverty rate 12.0% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 57% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 1.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 11.1% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 57.1% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 12.0% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 0.8% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $2,030 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $130,316 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $64,195 (vs Oklahoma $74,344) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $73,255 |
| Median Household Income | $61,500 (vs Oklahoma $62,125) |
| Poverty Rate | 12.0% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Finance Insurance |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $61,500 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 0.7% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 1% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 0.9% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 1,202 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $61,214,915 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $50,949 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,664,310 |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.7% (vs Oklahoma 3.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 36 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 92,425 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 2,567.40 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Grain, Wheat |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 122 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 721 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 33,570 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 4 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Commercial Banks | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Insurance Agencies | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Full Service Restaurants | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Fast Food | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 3 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (1)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Country Grocery |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 1 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | HELENA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $43,363,053 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,608.89 (vs Oklahoma $7,371) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 5,699 people (vs Oklahoma 63,420) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 56.5% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 20.0% |
| Pct Walked | 0.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 48.1 years (vs Oklahoma 35.2y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 42.6% |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12