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METRO AREA

Battle Creek Metro

Battle Creek, MI · 1 counties · 133,408 residents (2025 est.) · 706.262 sq mi
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The short version

Battle Creek has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,177. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $162,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
133,778
−3%since 2000
from 137,985 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
189 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 195 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+10%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:133,408 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
133K135K136K137K138K1990201020202024Battle Creek
2024134K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,177
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,918 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,349
+79%since 2000
from $19,230 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.7%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.9%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+2%since 2010
from 0.434 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$162,800
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $81,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$968
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $484 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 73.0% in 2000
27.3% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.9%
−8.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+23%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
25
RELATED:See current rent listings in Battle Creek on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic82.4%(113,723)
Black10.8%(14,912)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(4,351)
Asian1.1%(1,516)
Other0%
Diversity Score34%(46,854)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.3%(100,683)
Black9.6%(12,835)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(7,914)
Asian2.6%(3,460)
Other6.6%(8,886)
Diversity Score52%(69,529)
Segregation Score38.2%(51,099)
Diversity Score
52
+53%since 2000
from 34 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
−5%since 2020
from 40 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.9%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.4%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.5 min
+58%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 82.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.1%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−6.3 ptssince 2011
from 12.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 61.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.5%
−27.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
4.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.2%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2012
from 15.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−81.6 ptssince 2013
from 87.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.6%
+17.7 ptssince 2017
from 71.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 94.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Battle CreekCENTRAL52,021
What's inside

1 component county

Calhoun CountyCENTRAL133,408
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Battle Creek

Eureka
Pop 131,647
Cleveland
Pop 134,057
Lawton
Pop 127,590
Manhattan
Pop 136,122
Places similar to Battle Creek
Head to head

Compare Battle Creek side by side

BATTLE CREEK VS
Eureka
Income$61,160−3%
Home value$446,900+175%
Population131,647−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BATTLE CREEK VS
Cleveland
Income$65,993+4%
Home value$249,132+53%
Population134,057same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BATTLE CREEK VS
Lawton
Income$60,660−4%
Home value$161,650−1%
Population127,590−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BATTLE CREEK VS
Manhattan
Income$66,730+6%
Home value$221,604+36%
Population136,122+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Battle Creek, MI?

Battle Creek, MI has about 133,778 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Battle Creek, MI?

The typical household in Battle Creek, MI earns about $63,177 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Battle Creek, MI expensive?

In Battle Creek, MI, the median home is worth about $162,800, and the typical rent is about $968 a month.

How educated are people in Battle Creek, MI?

About 22.9% of adults age 25 and over in Battle Creek, MI hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Battle Creek, MI?

About 13.9% of people in Battle Creek, MI live below the federal poverty line.

Has Battle Creek, MI grown since 1990?

Yes, Battle Creek, MI has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,204 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →