The Town FilesBattle Creek, Iowa
City in Ida County · population 700 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $73,800
- Household income
- $59,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 41.0
Battle Creek is a city of 700 people in Ida County, Iowa. The median home is worth $73,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300).
How Battle Creek ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Battle Creek is worth $73,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $59,688, which is more affordable than 98% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $480 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Battle Creek | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $73,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $480 | $820 |
| Median household income | $59,688 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Battle Creek
| People | Battle Creek | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Battle Creek
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Battle Creek since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 26, 1969 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 17, 1978.
Severe weather in Ida County since 1996
Ida County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 24, 2014 | Flood | DR-4184: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ida County
Ida County had 3,584 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,392 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Battle Creek itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Battle Creek
- Ida Grove, IA6.7 mi · 2,051 people · home $94,900
- Holstein, IA12.1 mi · 1,501 people · home $114,400
- Schleswig, IA13.7 mi · 830 people · home $163,600
- Mapleton, IA14.2 mi · 1,165 people · home $113,000
- Anthon, IA14.4 mi · 545 people · home $101,400
- Correctionville, IA14.5 mi · 766 people · home $84,700
- Charter Oak, IA17.2 mi · 535 people · home $77,700
- Odebolt, IA17.7 mi · 994 people · home $98,800
Battle Creek questions
Is Battle Creek, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Battle Creek scores better for retirees than 62% of Iowa towns and quieter than 52%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Battle Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Battle Creek is valued at $73,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,688, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $480 a month.
What is the weather like in Battle Creek?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Battle Creek get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Battle Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 26, 1969. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)