[arkknowles]

Hi,
My family will be moving to the Battle Creek area and we will be purchasing a home. I am a bit of a real eatate snob and am looking for a larger place (3800+ sq ft) in a really good area. We have an 11 year old so I need to be in an area with a great publc school or need suggestings on a great private school. Help! Is it better to live in a commuting distance to Battle Creek?

[Bydand]

If you are a snob, you might fit better in Marshall than most of Battle Creek.

[deslok]

The OP said he was a real estate snob, not a snob themselves. If that is the case, battle creek around minges place wouldn't be bad. Marshall is allright for that sort of thing if you don't mind living a long ways away from everyone, in a city where people are basically cut off from the rest of the world.
A true snob would also find a nice place on Gull Lake on the lake. Either way it is all western Michigan and fairly inexpensive compared to the rest of the world, so you shouldn't have too much trouble.

[timeofseasons]

Suburbs west towards Kalamazoo, or north towards Lansing.

[jeanniepep]

Haha, I was going to say that about Marshall too. Actually, it's good for real estate snobs as well as regular snobs, because the historic homes around there are just gorgeous!! It's really only about a 10 min drive into Battle Creek from there. But, the people can be kind of hard to get to know. They are very friendly to visitors but don't take too kindly to newcomers buying homes in "their" neighborhood ("theirs" as in, they own it and run it and you are intruding). We bought a home there but wound up moving in less than 5 years - we just didn't fit in. If you're really into sprucing up your home and trying to out-do the neighbors with your garden, you would probably really like it. They do have some nice restaurants there (Schuler's, most notably) and the Dark Horse Brewery is AMAZING. But, you'll have to drive to Battle Creek for any real shopping and dining.

There are some similarly large & ritzy historic homes neighborhoods on the outskirts of Battle Creek, I'm just not sure what the streets are.

[Toymeister]

It has been summed up quite accurately WORK in BC but LIVE elsewhere. Kalamazoo area or Portage gives you the best options.

Where are you moving from? What are your expectations? Moving TO BC? You must be a civil servant!

[Giesela]

Why would snob be moving to within 50 miles of Battle Creek? Don't get me wrong I lived there over 10 years and liked it. If you are a real snob live in Grand Rapids or Holland or Sagatuk.
If you want to live closer look for something in the Lakeview school district, maybe Harper Creek or Gull Lake. As for house snobbery, nothing in Michigan is more valued than lake property. Goegac Lake is right in Battle Creek, and its a nice pretty big lake too with lots of expensive properties. Or Gull Lake, huge and deep.

[unclejake21]

Is your job in Battle Creek. If its in the nearby area I would choose Richland. Lots of big houses there especially near Gull lake.

[mastersaigon]

the schools in battle creek are terrible....i grew up in that dump for 20 years and hate my parents for raising me in that crime infested town. 7 shootings in the last 3 months, that town is a joke. the only school i would recommend is st.phillip catholic central high and dont live anywhere near downtown.

[deslok]

For adults, Battle creek is not a bad place to live. They have a bit of a crime problem but that too shall pass at some time. They just opened a brand new casino in the area, as well as added on a new english style pub and martini bar downtown.
People raised in Battle Creek grow up hating it since their parents most likely did as well. This is common in that city, instead of pride you have resentment in most of the residents. I feel this will change once newer families are brought in with Kellogg's expanding at some point, or new jobs in food technology.