Niles receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Battle Creek
Niles
Opportunity
21 · Bottom 2%
vs28 · Bottom 6%
Growth
20 · Bottom 9%
vs23 · Bottom 11%
Climate
61 · Bottom 32%
vs61 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
89 · Top 6%
vs94 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
99 · Top 31%
vs95 · Top 47%
Access
98 · Top 8%
vs91 · Top 22%
Economic stability
49 · Bottom 47%
vs37 · Bottom 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Battle Creek | Niles | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 133,778 | 153,288 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,177 | $65,425 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,349 | $38,351 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 189/sq mi | 270/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $162,800 | $224,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $968 | $942 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 72.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -7.3% | -7.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 30.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 117 | 317 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.7% | -24.0% | 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 | 31.5" | 39.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 22.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.2 | 42.7 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Battle Creek
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, tornado.
Niles
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Battle Creek
62
Your Score
57
Area Score
Niles
61
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Battle Creek, MI Metro Area · Niles, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology