MoveMap
Moving Guides/Battle Creek

Moving to Battle Creek

What you need to know before relocating to Battle Creek, Michigan. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.

Is Battle Creek a Good Place to Live?

Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Battle Creek compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include rent ($906/mo) is below the national average; home prices ($163,500) are well below the us median; high school graduation rate of 92%.

Battle Creek at a Glance

Population
133K
Median Income
$57,514
Median Rent
$906/mo
Median Home Price
$163,500
Unemployment
4.4%
Avg Commute
55289 min

Cost of Living in Battle Creek

The median rent in Battle Creek is $906/month, while the median home value is $163,500. With a median household income of $57,514, residents spend roughly 19% of monthly income on rent.

Overall, the Battle Creek metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.

Rent vs. National Avg
35% below
Home Price vs. National Avg
46% below

Job Market

Battle Creek has a median household income of $57,514, which is 23% below the national median. The local unemployment rate is 4.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.

Safety in Battle Creek

The violent crime rate in Battle Creek is 457 per 100,000 residents, which is 20% above the national average of 380.

Property crime rate: 1547 per 100,000 residents.

Education in Michigan

Michigan has a high school graduation rate of 92% and per-pupil spending of $16,208/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1.

35% of Michigan adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Healthcare Access

Michigan has 292 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 6.2% uninsured rate, and 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Michigan is 76.9 years.

Pros and Cons of Living in Battle Creek

+Pros

  • Rent ($906/mo) is below the national average
  • Home prices ($163,500) are well below the US median
  • High school graduation rate of 92%
  • Low uninsured rate (6.2%) and good healthcare access

-Cons

  • Median household income ($57,514) trails the national median
  • Longer-than-average commute (55289 min)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Battle Creek a good place to live?

Battle Creek, Michigan has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including rent ($906/mo) is below the national average and home prices ($163,500) are well below the us median. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.

What is the cost of living in Battle Creek?

The median rent in Battle Creek is $906/month and the median home value is $163,500. The median household income is $57,514. Overall the metro is considered affordable.

Is Battle Creek safe?

Battle Creek has a violent crime rate of 457 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

What is the job market like in Battle Creek?

Battle Creek has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $57,514.

Explore More About Battle Creek