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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Battle Creek, MI has a Safety Score of 11/100 — higher crime than 89% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,633 of 2,971 US cities and #93 of 102 in Michigan.
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 11/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Battle Creek ranks #93 out of 102 cities in Michigan and #2633 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 11th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 89% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Battle Creek is aggravated assault, at 946.7 per 100K — 2.9x 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 (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 686 | 1,121.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 8.2 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 68 | 111.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 34 | 55.6 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 579 | 946.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,543 | 2,522.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 312 | 510.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,050 | 1,716.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 181 | 295.9 | 352.4 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battle Creek, Michigan safe?
Battle Creek has a safety score of 11/100, meaning it has less crime than about 11% 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 include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
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 11/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.