Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Battle Creek, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

52,374

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

62%32,482

Black

15.6%8,170

Hispanic/Latino

8.3%4,363

Two or More

8.2%4,312

Asian

4.9%2,554

Other

0.7%386

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%78

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%29

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

5.4%1,870

High School Diploma

29.9%10,437

Some College (<1 yr)

9.2%3,202

Some College (1+ yr)

14.5%5,049

Associate's Degree

9.5%3,303

Bachelor's Degree

14.5%5,062

Master's Degree

5.6%1,956

Professional Degree

1.1%369

Doctorate

0.7%236

HS or Higher

90.2%

BA or Higher

21.9%

Graduate+

7.3%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$141,900

Median Renti

$957

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

66%13,950

Renter-Occupied

34%7,178

Total Units

23,600

Homeownership

66%

Vacancy Rate

10.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

11.7%1,628

$50K–$100K

22.3%3,117

$100K–$150K

18%2,514

$150K–$200K

20.4%2,845

$200K–$300K

16.1%2,239

$300K–$500K

9.5%1,322

$500K–$1M

1.8%250

$1M+

0.3%35

Rent Distribution

Under $500

813

$500–$750

941

$750–$1,000

2,104

$1,000–$1,250

1,698

$1,250–$1,500

767

$1,500–$2,000

359

$2,000+

228

Year Built

2020 or later

0.4%91

2010–2019

1.3%316

2000–2009

6.2%1,459

1990–1999

7.4%1,744

1980–1989

5.6%1,331

1970–1979

13%3,064

1960–1969

8.6%2,040

1950–1959

17.7%4,169

1940–1949

10.3%2,429

1939 or earlier

29.5%6,957

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

85.5%18,061

Electricity

12.2%2,580

Bottled/LP Gas

1.4%286

Wood

0.4%79

No Fuel

0.3%71

Other

0.2%51

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$55,693

Mean Household Incomei

$72,919

Per Capita Incomei

$30,455

Poverty Ratei

17.3%

Unemploymenti

Labor Forcei

25,332

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.1%1,078

$10K–$15K

7.8%1,640

$15K–$20K

3.8%793

$20K–$25K

4.6%977

$25K–$30K

3.8%795

$30K–$35K

6.1%1,298

$35K–$40K

6.1%1,296

$40K–$45K

4.4%925

$45K–$50K

4.9%1,041

$50K–$60K

6.1%1,295

$60K–$75K

11.9%2,524

$75K–$100K

12.5%2,648

$100K–$125K

8.1%1,711

$125K–$150K

4.8%1,008

$150K–$200K

5%1,047

$200K+

5%1,052

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,451

Residentsi

2,279

Avg. Tenant Renti

$410/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

53 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing15 homes87% occupied$710/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers554 homes83% occupied$415/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8296 homes94% occupied$382/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC44 homes99% occupied$434/mo rent

811/PRAC10 homes

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $55,693/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $17K/yr

68.4%

Very low income$17K–$28K/yr

24.5%

Low income$28K–$45K/yr

6.5%

Moderate / aboveOver $45K/yr

0.6%

Who Receives This Housing

71.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

55.2% of subsidized households are minority

29.3% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

43.5% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

3,8807.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

1,090

India

345

Germany

129

Philippines

China

Canada

Korea

United Kingdom

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

23,050

Avg. Commutei

18.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

23,447

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

2,655(6.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.7%Insured

5.3%Uninsured

Battle Creek, MI Population, Income & Demographics 2026