About 25 miles east of Santa Rosa is the small, wealthy city of St. Helena, CA., St. Helena is bordered by Deer Park, Calistoga, Yountville, Angwin, Eldridge, Glen Ellen, Kenwood, Oakville, and Rutherford.
The area of St. Helena was first established as a small town in March 1876 when only about 1,800 people were living there. It was named after the local mountain range called Mount St. Helena and started out as a distributor of produce as well as mining products. The community was officially incorporated as the city of St. Helena in May 1889.
St. Helena goes by the nickname of “Napa Valley’s Main Street”.
Known for its many wineries and top-rated restaurants, and St. Helena attracts visitors from all over the country looking for the true Napa Valley wine and dine experience. With a classic wine country atmosphere, wine aficionados love living in St. Helena.
There have been many notable people who have lived in St. Helena including the co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Ellen White, former MLB baseball player Billy Orr, archaeologist Siegfried Horn, and winery owner Josephine Tychson.
Table of Contents
1. People of St. Helena, CA – Population & Demographics
How many people live in St. Helena? While most of its growth occurred during the 1970s, people continue to relocate to St. Helena every year. The St. Helena population is 6,101 residents with a median age of 50 years old, maintaining its small town feel.
St. Helena demographics include 65% Caucasian, 31% Hispanic or Latino, 2% Black or African American, and 1% Asian. The local St. Helena gender ratio has more women than men with a split of about 54% female and 46% male.
The median household income in St. Helena is $90,031, making this an affluent community.
2. Cost of Living in St. Helena, CA
How much does it cost to live in St. Helena, CA? The average cost of living in St. Helena is 151% higher than the national average and 101% higher than the California state average. early every expense costs more in this area including groceries, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and the St. Helena real estate market.
St. Helena, CA homes for sale feature large, extravagant properties with high price tags to match. The average price of a home in St. Helena is $2.19 million, which equals a median sale price of $749 per square foot. These St. Helena home prices make it an exclusive community for upper class families and other affluent individuals.
The homeownership rate in St. Helena is 58.9%. The St. Helena property tax rate is 0.680%, adding up to about $14,892 in property taxes per year for a $2.19 million dollar home.
More than 40% of residents living in St. Helena rent, providing ample opportunities to lease your living space as well. The average price of rent in St. Helena is $2,130 per month, depending on where you live and the size of your location.
3. St. Helena Neighborhoods
Is living in St. Helena safe? The overall crime rate in St. Helena is 49% lower than the national average with violent crime at 49% lower as well. Safer than 59% of cities in the US, people can rest easy when moving to St. Helena. There is a 1 in 79 chance of becoming a victim of a crime in St. Helena, making it a safe place to live.
Where should you live in St. Helena? You’ll find plenty of upscale, comfortable St. Helena neighborhoods to choose from including gated communities and open developments such as Champagne, Spring Mountain, and others.
St. Helena covers about 5.1 square miles along the western border of Napa County in California. The main St. Helena zip code is 94574. A new phone number will have a St. Helena area code of 707.
Plenty of convenient shopping can be found in St. Helena with stores such as Safeway, Smiths, St. Helena Pharmacy, Sportago, ACME Fine Wines, and many other shops along St. Helena Highway.
4. St. Helena, CA Weather
As part of the bay area, the weather in St. Helena offers a comfortable atmosphere for most of the year. With mildly wet, cool winters and warm, dry summers, there is a typical Mediterranean climate in St. Helena.
Average temperatures in St. Helena stay warm during summer reaching the low 90s in the daytime and the mid-50s at night. Winters are mild with a bit more precipitation as temperatures drop to between the mid-30s and upper 50s. St. Helena weather brings an average of 35 inches of rainfall annually as well.
5. Things to Do in St. Helena
With a vineyard and/or winery on seemingly every corner, there are many fun attractions and exciting things to do in St. Helena.
Beringer Vineyards
Established in the 1880s, Beringer Vineyards is one of the oldest vineyards in the area and has become one of the best places to visit in St. Helena. Enjoy a wine tasting on their wrap-around veranda as you take in the scenic view of the surrounding Napa Valley.
Beringer Vineyards, 2000 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574 (707) 257-5771
V. Sattui
As the top winery in St. Helena, V. Sattui has become a staple of the community for both residents and visitors alike. Enjoy their house wines within a comfortable tasting room or enjoy the spectacular sights as you wander through their grounds. Visiting the V. Sattui winery has become one of the top things to do in St. Helena over the years.
Sattui, 1111 White Ln, St Helena, CA 94574 (707) 963-7774
Additional Major St. Helena Attractions
- Clif Family Winery, 709 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
- Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, 1490 Library Ln, St Helena, CA 94574
- Spring Mountain Vineyard, 2805 Spring Mountain Rd, St Helena, CA 94574
- Duckhorn Vineyards, 1000 Lodi Ln, St Helena, CA 94574
6. St. Helena Restaurants
Whether you want a fine-dining experience or a quick place to stop for takeout, local restaurants in St. Helena offer options for every taste.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
One of St. Helena’s top places to eat is Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, where you can enjoy fresh farm-to-table meals. The upscale eatery offers a mouthwatering menu ranging from Dungeness crab and Idaho trout to steak frites, ribs, pork chops, and more.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, 738 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574 (707) 963-4555
Goose & Gander
In a gastropub setting, Goose & Gander is one of the top St. Helena restaurants for a delicious steak or burger. Choose from butcher’s cut wagyu, bone-in ribeye, New York strip, or a G&G Burger, and pair it with your favorite wine or craft cocktail.
Goose & Gander, 1245 Spring St, St Helena, CA 94574 (707) 967-8779
7. Jobs in St. Helena
Aside from the city’s many wineries, there aren’t many St. Helena jobs within its boundaries. But as a bedroom community, St. Helena does offer easy access to other nearby cities for career opportunities. The best places to work in St. Helena are:
- Keysight Technologies
- E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Medtronic
- Apple
A good amount of local residents commute from St. Helena to Santa Rosa, covering about 25 miles in 45 minutes both ways.
The average salary in St. Helena is $68,000, though this amount may not reflect the standard income as well as the city’s median numbers. The St. Helena state income tax rate is 8.25%. St. Helena currently has a 3% unemployment rate.
8. St. Helena Schools
Around 1,159 children between the ages of 0 and 18 years old are living in St. Helena, adding up to about 19% of the population. While there aren’t a ton of kids in the area, St. Helena is still an excellent place for families to live.
The community is home to its own Saint Helena Unified School District, where parents will be pleased with the education their children receive. Local top-ranked St. Helena schools include:
- Saint Helena Elementary School
- Robert Louis Stevenson Intermediate School
- Saint Helena High School
No colleges or universities are located within St. Helena boundaries, but new graduates do have the option of attending the nearby Pacific Union College about 7.5 miles north in Angwin.
Living in St. Helena Pros & Cons
- Pro: Home to a huge number of wineries, you’ll never have to go far to try a new glass.
- Pro: St. Helena is a safe city to live in with beautiful communities to choose from.
- Con: The cost of living and especially the real estate market are high.
Moving to St. Helena, CA
If relocating to St. Helena sounds like the perfect choice for you, the team at Mentors Moving is here to make it a reality. Let our efficient St. Helena movers take care of your upcoming transition! Get in touch with us today by calling (707) 205-3548 or complete the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!