F
66%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
217%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
37%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBattle Creek/100k peopleMichigan/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,364n/a (estimate)3,8531,9982,324
Murder10n/a16.36.96.3
Rape97n/a158.164.840.0
Robbery33n/a53.836.666.1
Assault580n/a945.4352.7268.2
Violent crime720n/a (estimate)1,174461370
Burglary346n/a564.0214.3269.8
Theft1,153n/a1,879.51,055.31,401.9
Vehicle theft145n/a236.4267.2282.7
Property crime1,644n/a (estimate)2,6801,5371,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Battle Creek, MI

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Battle Creek is 65.8% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 720 violent crimes reported in Battle Creek, equivalent to 1174 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 217.4%. Additionally, Battle Creek recorded 1644 property crimes, amounting to 2680 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 37.1%.

Battle Creek is one of the most dangerous cities in America with a violent crime rate of 1174 per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Battle Creek is 1 in 86.

Despite a steady decline in murder rates in the United States since 1990, recent years have witnessed an unfortunate uptick. Battle Creek stands out with one of the nation's highest murder rates, surpassing other cities that reported crime. In Battle Creek, there were a total of 10 murders, translating to 16 murders per 100,000 people, underscoring the pressing need for continued efforts to address and reduce severe violent crime in the area.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Battle Creek?

AreaVibes surveyed 56 local residents in Battle Creek to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 20% of people answered that there was very little crime in Battle Creek and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 80% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.

Is Battle Creek a Safe Place to Live?

Before you decide to relocate, it’s always good to ask yourself “Is Battle Creek a safe place to live?” Although the answer might not be that simple, as some areas are safer than others, getting a good feel for the overall rate of crime can definitely be helpful. Overall, the Battle Creek crime rate is 66% higher than the national average. If we break that down daily, that translates into 6.48 crimes per day - 1.97 violent crimes and 4.5 property crimes.

Has Crime in Battle Creek Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in Battle Creek crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in Battle Creek has increased by 8.9% year over year. Violent crime has increased by 17.3% and property crime has increased by 5.7%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Battle Creek

Battle Creek reports an unemployment rate of 4%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. Constrained employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-paying positions can contribute to elevated rates of unemployment and underemployment. Areas where individuals contend with joblessness or insufficient wages may display heightened susceptibility to an increase in criminal activities attributed to economic insecurity. Conversely, regions characterized by robust employment rates often witness a decrease in overall Battle Creek crime rates.

Battle Creek has a population density of 1199.5 people per square mile, while with the national average is 90.6 people per square mile. Cities characterized by high population density are frequently larger urban centers offering diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality may be accentuated, resulting in the coexistence of poverty and affluence. Such economic disparities can contribute to elevated property crimes and on occasion, violent crimes. Conversely, areas with low population density generally record lower Battle Creek crime rates.

The educational level within a community can have an influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of education are associated with reduced crime rates, as they offer individuals improved employment prospects and alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment tends to correspond with higher crime rates. In Battle Creek, 84.5% of residents have achieved at least a high school diploma, which differs from the national average of 83%.

Battle Creek crime map



The Battle Creek crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Battle Creek as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Battle Creek crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Battle Creek crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Battle Creek, MI Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Battle Creek crime rates are 66% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Battle Creek are 217% higher than the national average
      • In Battle Creek you have a 1 in 26 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Battle Creek is safer than 3% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Battle Creek has increased by 7%

      Battle Creek, MI Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Battle Creek (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Battle Creek for every 100,000 residents. The Battle Creek total amount of daily crime is 1.93 times more than the Michigan average and 1.66 times more than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Battle Creek, is 2.55 times more than the Michigan average, and it is 3.17 times more than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Battle Creek has a daily crime average that is 1.74 times more than the Michigan average and 1.37 times more than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Battle Creek (higher is better)

        How safe is Battle Creek, Michigan compared to other cities in Michigan and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Battle Creek is safer than 3% of the cities in Michigan and 3% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in Michigan and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Battle Creek. Overall, Battle Creek is ranked below average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Battle Creek

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Battle Creek is 1 in 86
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Battle Creek is 1 in 38
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Battle Creek is 1 in 26
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Battle Creek? In Battle Creek, you have a 1 in 86 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 38. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Battle Creek, MI is 1 in 26.

        Year Over Year Crime In Battle Creek (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Battle Creek, MI is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Battle Creek has increased by 15%, while the property crime rate in Battle Creek has increased by 4% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Battle Creek has increased by 7% with regards to total crimes year over year.

        Battle Creek police department

        Item Battle Creek Michigan National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)12210,515558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.02.13.3
        There are a total of 122 Battle Creek police officers. This results in 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 4% less than the Michigan average and 38.9% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Michigan

        State Total offenders Michigan /100K National /100K
        Michigan40,460414266
        There are a total of 40,460 sex offenders in Michigan. This yields a total of 414 sex offenders in Michigan per 100,000 residents which is 56% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        South Gull Lake, MI1,61565216280
        Delton, MI596147490637
        Bellevue, MI1,152215718933
        Brownlee Park, MI1,9642528421,094
        Level Park-Oak Park, MI3,6382538421,094
        Galesburg, MI2,2012568531,109
        Richland, MI87701,2751,275
        Battle Creek, MI51,0841,1742,6803,853

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Glendora, CA51,0872722,2862,559
        Wheaton, MD51,1914451,8282,273
        Florissant, MO51,2202752,3212,597
        Grand Island, NE51,2504062,5772,983
        Wylie, TX51,25159578637
        Battle Creek, MI51,0841,1742,6803,853
        Source: The Battle Creek, MI crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.