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Helena, Alabama

city · Shelby County (primary) , Jefferson County

At a glance

21,769
Population
$330,700
Median home value (all homes)
9% above U.S. median
$367,018
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,574/mo
Median rent
17% above U.S. median
$115,139
Median household income
47% above U.S. median
30.7 min
Average commute
96.6%
Homes with broadband
88.09%
Locations with fiber available
2%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 108 — 8% above the national average. how it's computed

Housing27% above
Goods & services3% below
Utilities25% above
Taxes19% above
Insurance7% below
Commute cost2% above
For business: Alabama is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college12 mi
Nearest community college10 mi
Nearest technical college6 mi
High school graduates97.5%
College graduates51.4%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city Helena
county Jefferson County Eco & Industrial Dev
Jefferson County EIDA provides an inventory of commercial sites for new and expanding businesses in Jefferson County, Alabama. It describes itself as a one-stop shop for business assistance, offering information on available properties, utilities, soil studies, and ready-to-go locations.
state Alabama Association of Reg Councils
A public nonprofit organization representing municipalities and counties in Alabama through the membership of the 12 regional councils, promoting regional planning and economic development, coordinating statewide planning and economic development initiatives and hosting an annual training conference.
state Alabama Development Office
The Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama initiative promotes investment and business growth in the state, offering resources, incentives, and project assistance while coordinating workforce development and global business efforts.
state Eco Dev Partnership of Alabama
EDPA is a private, non-profit organization that supports Alabama’s economic development efforts focusing on business attraction and expansion, innovation and entrepreneurship, talent attraction and retention, business intelligence and research, and policy.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateYes

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