The Town FilesBattle Creek, Nebraska
City in Madison County · population 1,194 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $194,300
- Household income
- $95,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.8
Battle Creek is a city of 1,194 people in Madison County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $194,300, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Nebraska towns, better for families than 95% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 95% of Nebraska towns.
How Battle Creek ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Battle Creek is worth $194,300, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $95,536, which is more affordable than 68% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $960 a month. 82.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Battle Creek | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,300 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $960 | $818 |
| Median household income | $95,536 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.0% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Battle Creek
| People | Battle Creek | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Battle Creek
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 27.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Battle Creek since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 30, 1954 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4375: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 22,011 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,267 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Battle Creek itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Battle Creek
2 public schools with 546 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BATTLE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 280 | 15.6 |
| BATTLE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 266 | 12.7 |
Towns near Battle Creek
- Norfolk, NE9.1 mi · 24,955 people · home $211,700
- Tilden, NE12.3 mi · 992 people · home $156,500
- Woodland Park, NE13.6 mi · 1,830 people · home $165,600
- Madison, NE13.8 mi · 2,283 people · home $133,200
- Pierce, NE14.4 mi · 1,845 people · home $179,400
- Newman Grove, NE19.6 mi · 667 people · home $100,000
- Stanton, NE20.2 mi · 1,520 people · home $177,100
- Humphrey, NE22.2 mi · 857 people · home $231,300
Battle Creek questions
Is Battle Creek, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Battle Creek scores better for retirees than 20% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 29%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Battle Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Battle Creek is valued at $194,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,536, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $960 a month.
What is the weather like in Battle Creek?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 26.3 inches of snow.
Does Battle Creek get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Battle Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 30, 1954. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)