United States › Michigan › Battle Creek CITY · 2020 ACS
Battle Creek Michigan · 52,721 residents · 42.6 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Battle Creek is a city of 52,721 people in Michigan. Median home value sits at $91,700. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The poverty rate is 22.7%, above the 12.8% national rate. Households here earn about 29% less than in Michigan as a whole. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 34.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
51K 52K 52K 53K 54K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Battle Creek Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,285
−21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,491 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,424 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 3.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$91,700
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $70,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$770
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $488 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 65.8% in 2000
39.7% rent
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 72.6%(38,761)
Hispanic / Latino 4.6%(2,475)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 61.9%(32,621)
Hispanic / Latino 7.7%(4,063)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 82.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 79.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 60.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 41.8%(8,477)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 15.9%(511)
Gulf War (1990s) 19.7%(636)
Share of the 3,223 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Battle Creek Head to head
Compare Battle Creek to nearby cities BATTLE CREEK VS
Kalamazoo
Income $52,272 +24%
Home value $179,000 +95%
Population 72,683 +40%
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BATTLE CREEK VS
Portage
Income $83,212 +97%
Home value $262,300 +186%
Population 49,862 −4%
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BATTLE CREEK VS
Westwood
Income $58,205 +38%
Home value $193,400 +111%
Population 8,867 −83%
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BATTLE CREEK VS
Coldwater
Income $50,781 +20%
Home value $137,500 +50%
Population 14,216 −73%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Battle Creek, Michigan? Battle Creek, Michigan has about 52,721 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Battle Creek, Michigan? The typical household in Battle Creek, Michigan earns about $42,285 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Battle Creek, Michigan expensive? In Battle Creek, Michigan, the median home is worth about $91,700, and the typical rent is about $770 a month.
How educated are people in Battle Creek, Michigan? About 21.1% of adults age 25 and over in Battle Creek, Michigan hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Battle Creek, Michigan? About 22.7% of people in Battle Creek, Michigan live below the federal poverty line.
Has Battle Creek, Michigan grown since 1990? Yes, Battle Creek, Michigan has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 819 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.
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