City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Battle Creek, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Battle Creek - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

822
Residents
$59,519
Median income
$72,300
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Battle Creek - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Battle Creek lands in the 34th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

34th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
6th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Battle Creek, IA

822 people live in Battle Creek, Iowa - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $59,519 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 2.5%. Battle Creek's housing stock carries a median value of $72,300, and the median resident age is 47.6 years. 9.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 65.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 46.9°F with 32.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $919 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Iowa, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 18.4 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

822 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$59,519 /yr

Poverty 2.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Battle Creek compare to other US cities?

Battle Creek measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 34% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Battle Creek against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Battle Creek near the bottom of Iowa's cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Battle Creek ranks #450 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Battle Creek only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#548 of 845
35th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#450 of 858
0th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#731 of 849
14th percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#647 of 858
24th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#726 of 858
15th percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

34thIncome percentile

34th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Battle Creek's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$72,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Battle Creek $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Battle Creek, IA Battle Creek, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Battle Creek, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Battle Creek, IA median $59,519/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Battle Creek, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Battle Creek, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
822
Median Income
$59,519
Median Home Value
$72,300
Median Age
47.6
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Labor force participation
65.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.1%

Climate

Avg Temperature
46.9°F
Annual Precipitation
32.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
670 residents680 residents690 residents700 residents710 residents 202020212022202320242025 699 residents 678 residents ▼ -3.0%
Battle Creek's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.6%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
16.3%

Based on 442 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Battle Creek sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
18.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Keota
819 people
Keystone
825 people
Hedrick
826 people
Schaller
817 people
Eldon
816 people
Alburnett
815 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Battle Creek's 822 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cripple Creek, CO
822 people
Stacey Street, FL
822 people
Downsville, MD
822 people
Springport, MI
822 people
Alamo, NV
822 people
Chauncey, OH
822 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Battle Creek's $59,519 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Eastview, TN
$59,519 median income
West Milton, OH
$59,522 median income
Chisholm, ME
$59,524 median income
Mathiston, MS
$59,514 median income
Black Rock, AR
$59,531 median income
Perryville, AR
$59,531 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Battle Creek, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Battle Creek, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.5% White 97.1% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 1.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Battle Creek compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Battle Creek (this city) 822 $59,519
Keota 819 $64,500
Keystone 825 $68,750
Hedrick 826 $63,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Battle Creek, IA?

What is the population of Battle Creek, IA? +

822 people live in Battle Creek, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Battle Creek, IA? +

Median annual household income in Battle Creek runs $59,519, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Battle Creek? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Battle Creek; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Battle Creek, IA? +

The median home value in Battle Creek is $72,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Battle Creek? +

Battle Creek has an average annual temperature of 46.9°F, 32.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.