St. Helena: Demographics & People

St. Helena's population stands at 97 people, in 32 households. Population shrank 18.5% from 119 (2022) to 97 (2024). Median age 38.7 years. (3.2y younger than Cedar County; 1.4y older than Nebraska). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 100% White (non-Hispanic). The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.00). 75% of households are family-led. County is losing 106 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 16% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population shrank 18.5% from 119 (2022) to 97 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~79 (extrapolated at -9.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 60.

Census data vintage2024
Population8,380 people
Annual growth rate · Population change-18.5%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)119
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)97
Annual growth rate · Trend categoryshrinking
Population97 people
Population Estimate60

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 38.7y is 0.2 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age38.7 years (vs Nebraska 37.3y)
Age Summary · Children Pct19.6%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Population under 1819
Median age38.7 years (vs Nebraska 37.3y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 97 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.00 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.

White residents119
Diversity Index · Diversity labelrelatively homogeneous
Diversity Index · Groups counted1
Diversity Index · Largest group share100.0%
White (non-Hispanic) population100.0%

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 (4)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
English

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).

Residents born in this state29
Residents born in another state68
Share born in this state29.9%
Share born in another state70.1%
Native-born U.S. citizens70.1%
Total foreign-born residents36

Households & Family Composition

32 households. Averaging 3.0 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 75% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 32 families, 19% are married couples with children.

Children under 1825
Total families32
Married couples with children6
Average household size3.05
Women who gave birth (past year)4.5%
Grandparents living with grandchildren1
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren1
Family households24 households
Households that are families75.0%
Total households32 households

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 4.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 106 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Lived in same home a year ago94.0%
Moved within the county (past year)4.3%
Migration · People moving in (annual)8,326
Migration · People moving out (annual)8,432
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-106
Migration · Year2022-2023

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 disability1
Disability rate0.9%

Other

Congressional District · District3
Congressional District · FormattedNE-03
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips31,027
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips31
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips27
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyCedar
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate10.8%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci6.40
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci17.10
Cdc Mortality · Fips31,027
Cdc Mortality · CountyCedar County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralNoncore
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023270
Cdc Vaccination · Fips31,027
Cdc Vaccination · CountyCedar County
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct43.3%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct51.5%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 20198,402
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusNon-metro
Cdc Vaccination · Date2023-05-10T00:00:00.000
Family Score · Score6.00
Family Score · Schools10
Family Score · Children Pct19.6%
Family Score · Ratinggood
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 97, shrinking, family-oriented, upper-middle, blue collar
Town Summary · Population97 people
Town Summary · CountyCedar County

Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade