Few cities are more closely associated with a consumer brand as is Battle Creek, the home of Kellogg's since 1906. It's where Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran come from.
Kellogg's is still the town's biggest employer but, like other local businesses, it is a mature company, unlikely to foster explosive growth. That has contributed to a modest population decline over the past two decades.
Battle Creek has a lot going for it. The wealth brought to town by the highly successful cereal moguls has been spread around, and there are a wealth of cultural institutions and recreational facilities befitting a much larger place.
There's also an ample stock of affordable housing. Metro area home prices are very reasonable, though not as low as other Michigan cities where the collapse of the auto industry led to huge layoffs and mass population exoduses. Home price have only fallen about 10% since the housing bust began, to a median of $78,000, according to Fiserv, which expects prices to be quite stable over the next couple of years.
For more information: Trulia
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