What it's like to live in Crystal
Crystal is a small city in Minnesota with home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Crystal deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a population that has been shrinking, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How Crystal compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Crystal
Based on Crystal's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,934
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,680 a year
- 52% of Crystal renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,220
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,610
- Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,467/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,467 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $296,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $296,100 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Hennepin County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Hennepin County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 15% below US
280 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2261/100k · Crystal Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 10°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (14 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Crystal's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and a population that has been shrinking. A year of median rent ($1,467/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home) and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Crystal
All Minnesota guides →Not sure Crystal is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.