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City · 14,258 residents · Columbia County, Oregon

St. Helens , Oregon

In St. Helens, a typical home is worth $394,200 and typical rent is $1,413 a month. Compared with all of Columbia County, the typical home value is 6% lower, typical household income is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $394,200

    6% below the county

    17% below Oregon

    • St. Helens
    • Columbia
    • Oregon

  • Typical rent

    $1,413a month

    3% above the county

    7% below Oregon

    • St. Helens
    • Columbia
    • Oregon

  • Typical household income

    $82,865a year

    5% below the county

    About the same as Oregon

    • St. Helens
    • Columbia
    • Oregon

  • Households that own their home

    62%

    14 points below the county

    1 points below Oregon

    • St. Helens
    • Columbia
    • Oregon

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$419,204
0.8% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,660 a month
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

St. Helens is in Columbia County. The FHA loan limit ($701,500 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Columbia County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets St. Helens apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 62% of households in St. Helens own their home, against 76% in Columbia County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in St. Helens

What homes there are in St. Helens, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in Columbia County, most homes in St. Helens are detached houses (72%).

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,733 a month

Columbia County: $1,886 a month

Without a mortgage

$624 a month

Columbia County: $637 a month

Owners with a mortgage

82%

Columbia County: 67%

Owning costs less in St. Helens: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,733 a month; in Columbia County, $1,886. Without one, $624.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in St. Helens rose 73% since 2015–2019, more than in Columbia County (59%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in St. Helens rose 57%, more than in Columbia County (49%).

The typical household income in St. Helens rose 62% over that time; home values changed +73% and rent +57%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSt. HelensColumbia CountyOregonUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.4%3.2%3.4%
People per household 2.572.532.422.53
Drive alone 64%71%65%69%
Carpool 20%14%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%5%3%
Work from home 13%12%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in St. Helens has 2.57 people on average, about the same as in Columbia County (2.53).

In St. Helens, 20% of workers share a car to get to work; in Columbia County, 14%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in St. Helens?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in St. Helens, worth $394,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in St. Helens, which is $82,865 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $137,304 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Columbia County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in St. Helens. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,797 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,204

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$387,060
Total interest
$556,889
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,657 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,934 a month

  • Tight

    $1,934 to $2,486 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,486 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in St. Helens ($82,865 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,204
Principal & interest$2,622
Property tax$243
Home insurance$164
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$174

You need at least $13,797 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

St. Helens and Columbia County

St. Helens is in Columbia County, Oregon. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

St. Helens's own numbers

Typical home value
$394,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$82,865
Households that own their home
62%
Effective property tax rate
0.74%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Columbia County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$701,500
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,878
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+35%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
7.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Columbia County.

Everything about Columbia County

Buying

Buying a home in St. Helens

A typical home in St. Helens is worth $394,200: 6% below the county and 17% below Oregon. With the typical household income in St. Helens ($82,865 a year), a typical home costs 4.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • St. Helens 4.8 years
  • Columbia 4.8 years
  • Oregon 5.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Columbia County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Columbia County rose 98% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Columbia County.

Period County Oregon U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.2% +0.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +35% +35% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +98% +86% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

St. Helens next to Columbia County, Oregon and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • St. Helens $394,200
  • Columbia $421,600
  • Oregon $477,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • St. Helens $1,413
  • Columbia $1,373
  • Oregon $1,525
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • St. Helens $82,865
  • Columbia $87,458
  • Oregon $83,011
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
St. Helens next to Columbia County and Oregon
Measure St. Helens Columbia County Oregon U.S.
Typical home value $394,200 $421,600 $477,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,413 $1,373 $1,525 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $82,865 $87,458 $83,011 $80,734
Households that own their home 62% 76% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,916 $3,137 $3,876 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.74% 0.74% 0.81% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 54% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Columbia County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in St. Helens

For a typical $394,200 home in St. Helens, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, St. Helens's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,204a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,797
    Cash to close
    $25,623
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $174

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,132a month

    Down payment
    $19,710
    Cash to close
    $31,536
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $187

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,544a month

    Down payment
    $78,840
    Cash to close
    $90,666
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,908a month

    Down payment
    $59,130
    Cash to close
    $70,956
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for St. Helens and for Columbia County.

Property tax

Effective rate in St. Helens

0.74%of the home’s value each year

$2,916 a year for the typical owner in St. Helens.

  • St. Helens 0.74%
  • Columbia 0.74%
  • Oregon 0.81%

What Oregon publishes 3 percent cap on maximum assessed value (Measure 50) (Oregon Legislature (Oregon Revised Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Oregon

Flood risk in Columbia County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Columbia County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
7.2%
1,737
Of those, with NFIP insurance
22%
County Oregon U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 7.2% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 22% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in St. Helens

Typical rent in St. Helens is $1,413 a month: 3% above the county. In St. Helens, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Columbia County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,878 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $36.12 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Columbia County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,527 $29.37 $61,080
1 bedroom $1,633 $31.40 $65,320
2 bedrooms $1,878 $36.12 $75,120
3 bedrooms $2,550 $49.04 $102,000
4 bedrooms $3,069 $59.02 $122,760

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in St. Helens

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). St. Helens is in ZIP code 97051.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,730: $148 less than the fair market rent for Columbia County ($1,878).

  • 97051 $1,730$2,360

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for St. Helens when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in St. Helens

HUD lists 2 buildings with rents for lower incomes in St. Helens. These are the largest.

  • Gable Park 2544 Gable Rd, St Helens 97051 32 low-income homes · In service since 1995 · For families
  • Forest Park Apts 2545 Columbia Blvd, St Helens 97051 80 homes · In service since 1999 · For older adults, families

See all 6 buildings in Columbia County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in St. Helens

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Columbia County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

Two women and a girl laugh together at the bus stop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in St. Helens

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for St. Helens or Columbia County. The ones below are statewide in Oregon: they work in St. Helens the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Oregon

  • OHCS Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Oregon

    Oregon state funds for the down payment and closing costs, delivered by local organizations: up to $60,000 or 20% of the price, sometimes as a grant or as a forgivable second mortgage, for first-time or first-generation buyers with income up to 100% of the area median. Offered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    GrantForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • FirstHome (Flex Lending)

    Statewide in Oregon

    Oregon Housing and Community Services mortgage for low- and moderate-income first-time buyers, with down payment assistance of 4% or 5% of the loan as a second mortgage. Offered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • NextStep (Flex Lending)

    Statewide in Oregon

    Oregon Housing and Community Services mortgage for any buyer, including people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% or 5% of the loan as a second mortgage that can be forgivable or repayable. Offered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near St. Helens

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of St. Helens, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc

    6329 NE Mlk Jr Blvd, Portland · 21 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in French, other languages, Russian, and Swahili.

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (503) 288-2923

  • Native American Youth and Family Center

    5135 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland · 22 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (503) 288-8177

  • Hacienda Community Development Corporation

    6700 NE Killingsworth St, Portland · 23 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (503) 961-6432

All counseling agencies in Oregon

Help in Spanish near St. Helens

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of St. Helens

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Columbia County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Oregon Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Columbia County

These cities are also in Columbia County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Columbia County Housing in Oregon

Nearby cities

The cities closest to St. Helens, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Columbia County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in St. Helens.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about St. Helens

Short answers with the numbers for St. Helens and all of Columbia County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in St. Helens?

The typical home value in St. Helens is $394,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Columbia County it is $421,600.

How much does it cost to rent in St. Helens?

Typical rent in St. Helens is $1,413 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Columbia County is $1,878.

What is the FHA loan limit in St. Helens?

St. Helens uses the FHA limit for all of Columbia County (2026): $701,500 for a one-unit home and $1,349,050 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in St. Helens?

The typical homeowner in St. Helens pays $2,916 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.74% of the home’s value; in Columbia County, the rate is 0.74%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in St. Helens?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Columbia County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).