Relocation profile · Federal data
Battle Creek, MI
BEA RPP 90.5 ranks #109 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 90.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,176
- 2BR rent / mo
- $65,204
- Median salary
- 50.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Battle Creek ranks #203 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (50.9/100), with its strongest marks in low hazard and cost of living.
- #203
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 10,140,459
- metro-area population
- 431
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 3,399
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (13/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Battle Creek ranks #203 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 90.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,176/mo, median salary $65,204; LiveAbility Score 50.9/100, strongest in low hazard and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 90.5 ranks #109 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 90.5 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,176/mo.
LiveAbility 50.9/100 keeps Battle Creek in the middle third (#203 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Battle Creek area is 48,040.
Battle Creek vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
51 Top 52% higher than 48% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Battle Creek housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Battle Creek MSA; housing RPP 61.0 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,176/mo.
Battle Creek wages and employment
Battle Creek posts 48,040 total employment with median salary $65,204 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $49,100 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,100 |
| Registered Nurses | $97,520 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $36,130 |
| Cashiers | $30,280 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Battle Creek area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Battle Creek area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Battle Creek's composite Life Score is 54.5/100 (D), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Battle Creek ranks #203 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 50.9/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Battle Creek - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Low hazard
Low hazard
85 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
72 /100
- Housing
Housing
68 /100
- Job market
Job market
51 /100
- Schools 26
Schools
26 /100
- Safety 20
Safety
20 /100
- Climate 13
Climate
13 /100
What this shows Battle Creek's strongest dimensions are low hazard and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 13/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Battle Creek to
Metros near Battle Creek on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Battle Creek on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Battle Creek cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Battle Creek wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Battle Creek?
Battle Creek runs a $65,204 median salary at a 90.5 cost index, ranking #203 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Battle Creek's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Battle Creek head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Battle Creek
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.