Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Battle Creek, MI has a Safety Score of 12/100 — higher crime than 88% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,617 of 2,957 US cities and #93 of 102 in Michigan.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Battle Creek, MI?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Battle Creek, Michigan Safe?
Battle Creek, "Cereal City," is home to Kellogg's and lies at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. This Calhoun County city has a population of around 50,000.
Battle Creek has a safety score of 12/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Battle Creek ranks #93 out of 102 cities in Michigan and #2617 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 12th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 88% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Battle Creek is aggravated assault, at 946.7 per 100K — 2.8x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Battle Creek's total crime rate decreased by 14%, with violent crime declining 13.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Battle Creek Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 686 | 1,121.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 5 | 8.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 68 | 111.2 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 34 | 55.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 579 | 946.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,543 | 2,522.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 312 | 510.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,050 | 1,716.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 181 | 295.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Battle Creek vs Michigan Average
How does Battle Creek's crime rate compare to the Michigan state average?
| Metric | Battle Creek | Michigan Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,121.6 | 637.8 | +75.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,522.8 | 1,951.4 | +29.3% |
| Murder Rate | 8.2 | 7.5 | +8.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,644.4 | 2,589.2 | +40.8% |
Battle Creek Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Battle Creek, Michigan.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 61,163 | 3,644.4 | 1,121.6 | 2,522.8 |
| 2023 | 60,969 | 4,239.9 | 1,300.7 | 2,939.2 |
| 2022 | 61,347 | 3,876.3 | 1,181.8 | 2,694.5 |
| 2021 | 60,134 | 3,673.5 | 1,052.7 | 2,620.8 |
| 2020 | 60,479 | 3,606.2 | 952.4 | 2,653.8 |
| 2019 | 60,607 | 4,187.6 | 938.8 | 3,248.8 |
Battle Creek Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Battle Creek and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Michigan crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battle Creek, Michigan safe?
Battle Creek has a safety score of 12/100, meaning it has less crime than about 12% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Battle Creek is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Battle Creek, Michigan?
According to FBI data for 2024, Battle Creek has a violent crime rate of 1,121.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,522.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Battle Creek compare to the national average?
Battle Creek's total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 61,163 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Battle Creek?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Battle Creek are larceny-theft (1,050 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (579 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.2x in the city.
Is Battle Creek safe to visit?
Like any city, Battle Creek has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 12/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.