How many renters in Helena, AL pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Helena, AL, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

62.0% (±17.7 points) of renting households in Helena, AL spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

57.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 44.7% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 62.0% (±17.7 points)
Paying 35% or more: 57.3% (±16.7 points)
Median share of income: 44.7% (±21.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in Helena

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Helena	Shelby County	Alabama	United States
Less than 15%	9.9% (±8.7 points)	12.0%	14.8%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	5.3% (±5.4 points)	17.1%	12.7%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.5% (±10.3 points)	13.7%	12.4%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.3% (±8.6 points)	10.2%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	4.7% (±6.0 points)	8.7%	9.0%	9.2%
35% or more	57.3% (±16.7 points)	38.4%	39.9%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Helena against Shelby County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Helena	Shelby County	Alabama	United States
Paying 30% or more	62.0% (±17.7 points)	47.1% (±4.0 points)	48.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	57.3% (±16.7 points)	38.4% (±3.4 points)	39.9% (±0.7 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	44.7% (±21.5 points)	28.6% (±1.6 points)	29.5% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	—	$58,774 (±$3,773)	$38,294 (±$594)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,574 (±$291)	$1,401 (±$38)	$1,007 (±$8)	$1,413

In Helena, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Shelby County (47.1%).

It is not measurably different from Alabama (48.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Shelby County, Helena ranks 2 of 18 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 86 of 489.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Helena

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Helena
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Helena	—	62.0% (±17.7 points)	—
Alabaster	5.8 mi	54.0% (±10.7 points)	Not measurably different
Hoover	7.5 mi	47.0% (±5.1 points)	Not measurably different
Bessemer	8.1 mi	54.9% (±8.8 points)	Not measurably different
Pelham	8.3 mi	50.7% (±15.3 points)	Not measurably different
McCalla	8.6 mi	35.2% (±24.6 points)	Not measurably different
Indian Springs Village	9.3 mi	11.9% (±48.4 points)	Not measurably different
Lipscomb	10 mi	68.9% (±33.0 points)	Not measurably different
Montevallo	11 mi	60.0% (±12.7 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Shelby County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Meadowbrook	65.5% (±22.0 points)
2	Helena	62.0% (±17.7 points)
3	Montevallo	60.0% (±12.7 points)
4	Alabaster	54.0% (±10.7 points)
5	Brook Highland	52.3% (±13.6 points)
6	Pelham	50.7% (±15.3 points)
7	Shoal Creek	49.3% (±57.4 points)
8	Vincent	44.4% (±114.4 points)

Showing 8 of 18 places in Shelby County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Helena

Are renters in Helena rent-burdened?

62.0% of renting households in Helena pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Helena spend on rent?

The median renting household in Helena, AL spends 44.7% (±21.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Helena city, Alabama (place:34024, in state:01).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.