49120 and 49014 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
49120
49014
Opportunity
24 · Bottom 4%
vs21 · Bottom 3%
Growth
13 · Bottom 4%
vs26 · Bottom 12%
Climate
61 · Bottom 18%
vs61 · Bottom 19%
Physical resilience
86 · Top 15%
vs89 · Top 12%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 9%
vs100 · Top 9%
Schools
51 · Bottom 49%
vs49 · Bottom 47%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs100 · Top 4%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 27%
vs37 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | 49120 | 49014 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,495 | 21,980 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $65,148 | $69,009 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,555 | $35,668 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 313/sq mi | 303/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $178,400 | $181,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $906 | $1,021 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.1% | 73.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | 5.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.1% | -7.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 22.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 14.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2 | 9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.2 | 0.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -95.2% | 12.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 39.2" | 31.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 21.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.6 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 15 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.27 | 16.10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 35.4% | 30.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.1% | 43.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 60.4% | 37.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
49120
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
49014
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Full profiles: 49120 — Niles, MI · 49014 — Battle Creek, MI · How this is calculated: methodology