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Living in
Crystal.
About
Life in Crystal
Crystal is a community of 22,685 people in Minnesota. The median household income is $92,513, median rent runs about $1,467 per month, and median home values are around $296,100. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Crystal at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Foreign-Born
9.7%
Broadband Internet
92.4%
of households
Population Growth
-4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Crystal: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Crystal, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (21.4%), and 9.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.1%
of households
Married Couples
44.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 15% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Crystal
In Crystal, rent runs 15% above the MN average, and home values are 10% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
34.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,643
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
76.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1959
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $315,531 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Crystal and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hennepin County, which includes Crystal, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Crystal: Hennepin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hennepin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Crystal is about 2% of Hennepin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Crystal Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute21.4 min avg
How Crystal residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Crystal, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Crystal runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
279.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,261.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Crystal Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hennepin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hennepin County, which includes Crystal, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 20 | Winter Storm | $14.0M |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43,700 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $512,500 |
| 2020 | 16 | Winter Storm | $1.3M |
| 2019 | 16 | Winter Storm | $255,000 |
| 2018 | 16 | Winter Storm | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hennepin County, county-wide
Crystal is about 2% of Hennepin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hennepin County, which includes Crystal, is typically good — 211 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
211
per year
Moderate Days
144
per year
Unhealthy Days
6
per year
Hennepin County, county-wide
Crystal is about 2% of Hennepin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Crystal has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
30.7"
Annual Snowfall
54.3"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
155
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 0.61" |
| Feb | 29°F | 11°F | 0.62" |
| Mar | 42°F | 23°F | 1.42" |
| Apr | 57°F | 35°F | 2.88" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 4.37" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.14" |
| Sep | 73°F | 52°F | 3.16" |
| Oct | 58°F | 38°F | 2.61" |
| Nov | 42°F | 26°F | 1.47" |
| Dec | 29°F | 13°F | 0.90" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Crystal
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Crystal's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Memorial Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Robbinsdale
Hennepin County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Minneapolis
Children's Hospitals & Clinics of Mn
Childrens · ER available · 7.3 mi away · Minneapolis
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Crystal
Crystal's student/teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 37.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Crystal (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
7.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,044 students · in-state tuition $6,567 · 26% graduate · median earnings $55,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Crystal
Crystal has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
14 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Crystal
Rockford Road Library
6401 42nd Avenue North, Crystal
Cities Near Crystal
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Crystal?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Crystal FAQ
Is Crystal, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Crystal's median rent is $1,467/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $92,513/year. Median home value is $296,100.
Is Crystal, Minnesota safe?⌄
Crystal's violent crime rate was 280 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2261 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Crystal, Minnesota?⌄
Hennepin County, which includes Crystal, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Crystal, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Crystal is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,467/month and median household income is $92,513/year. The median home value is $296,100. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Crystal, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Crystal is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from