# Helensburgh West and Rhu East Argyll and Bute. 4,381 people (mid-2024 estimate) in 3.5 square kilometres. Helensburgh West and Rhu had 4,500 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). Middle area. Code S02002673. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) › [Argyll and Bute](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute) ## Key figures - **Population: 4,500** (2021). Helensburgh West and Rhu had 4,500 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). 1,751st least populated of 9,448. Source: Census 2021, England and Wales and Scotland's Census 2022 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland, 2021. Published 21 July 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu#f-population - **People in radon Affected Area squares: 3%** (2022). About 3% of people in Helensburgh West and Rhu live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. UK 44%. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UKHSA and BGS radon atlas and census output areas. Published 1 December 2022. https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu#f-radon-affected-share - **Gigabit broadband coverage: 55.0%** (January 2026). In Helensburgh West and Rhu, 55.0% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026 (Ofcom). UK 87.8%. Source: Connected Nations (Ofcom), January 2026. Published 13 May 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu#f-gigabit-coverage - **Claimant rate: 1.2%** (August 2026). In Helensburgh West and Rhu, 1.2% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026 (ONS via Nomis). UK 3.9%. Source: Claimant count (Nomis), August 2026. Published 15 September 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu#f-claimant-rate ## On the map - [Radon Affected Area by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=S02002673) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 3% of people in Helensburgh West and Rhu live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. - [Average house price by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/house-prices?place=S02002673) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Argyll and Bute. The outline is Helensburgh West and Rhu. - [Crimes by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/scotland-crime-count?place=S02002673) (Recorded crimes and offences in Scotland · 2025/26): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Argyll and Bute. The outline is Helensburgh West and Rhu. - [Population by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S02002673) (Census 2021, England and Wales): Helensburgh West and Rhu had 4,500 usual residents at the census. ## Recorded crime in Helensburgh West and Rhu Scotland publishes recorded crime by council. It has its own layers. ## How Helensburgh West and Rhu compares Each middle area against every other middle area the measure covers. | Measure | Helensburgh West and Rhu | Rank | Compared with | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Population | 4,500 | 4th most populated | 23 middle areas, Argyll and Bute · 2021 | | People in radon Affected Area squares | 3% | 7th fewest people in radon Affected Areas | 23 middle areas, Argyll and Bute · 2022 | | Gigabit broadband coverage | 55.0% | 5th highest | 23 middle areas, Argyll and Bute · Jan 2026 | | Claimant rate | 1.2% | 3rd lowest | 23 middle areas, Argyll and Bute · Aug 2026 | ## What is the population of Helensburgh West and Rhu? Helensburgh West and Rhu had 4,500 usual residents at the census. Helensburgh West and Rhu is the 1,751st least populated of 9,448 in the UK. ## Figures for the whole of Argyll and Bute These figures are published for the whole of Argyll and Bute, not for each middle area, so they describe all of Argyll and Bute and not Helensburgh West and Rhu alone. [See Argyll and Bute](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute) - **Average house price: £192,735** (August 2026). Argyll and Bute’s average house price was £192,735 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry). Up 3.7% in a year. Source: UK House Price Index, August 2026. Published 21 October 2026. - **Median full-time pay: £39,010** (2025). Full-time workers living in Argyll and Bute earned a median of £39,010 in 2025 (ONS earnings survey). 161st highest paid of 348. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025. Published 23 October 2025. - **House price to pay: 4.9×** (2025). A home in Argyll and Bute costs 4.9 times local full-time pay. Joint 39th most affordable of 348. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UK House Price Index and the ONS earnings survey. Published 21 October 2026. - **Population estimate: 87,310** (2025). Argyll and Bute’s population was an estimated 87,310 in mid-2025 (ONS population estimates). Down 0.5% in a year. Source: Mid-year population estimates, 2025. Published 1 October 2026. ## Helensburgh West and Rhu in brief Helensburgh West and Rhu had 4,500 usual residents at the census. About 3% of people in Helensburgh West and Rhu live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. In Helensburgh West and Rhu, 55.0% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026. In Helensburgh West and Rhu, 1.2% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026. ## About - Type: Middle area - Code: S02002673 - Ward: [Helensburgh Central †](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/ward/helensburgh-central) - Constituency: [Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/argyll-bute-and-south-lochaber) - Council: [Argyll and Bute](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute) - Nation: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) - Area: 3.46 km² - People, mid-2024: 4,381* - Neighbourhoods: 6 - Output areas: 39 * People: worked out by Open Index by adding up the neighbourhood estimates inside this area. † Best fit: the ward and constituency this middle area mostly lies in. Its edges do not follow theirs. ## Next door [Lomond Shore](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/lomond-shore), [Helensburgh North](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-north), [Helensburgh Centre](https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-centre) ## Latest updates for Helensburgh West and Rhu - August 2026 house prices published: HM Land Registry and partners · Oct 2026. - September 2026 rent published: ONS private rents · Oct 2026. - Schools updated: Ofsted · Oct 2026. - GP practices updated: NHS England · Oct 2026. The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S02002673 ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu#f-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/argyll-and-bute/helensburgh-west-and-rhu