Bassett Creek Park, 2014
Crystal’s story
160 years in pictures
Census counts: 417 in 1860, a low of 48 in 1890, 23,330 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 6 maps from 1902 on.
- 1866Crystal is settled
Population
22,239
2025 Census estimate · −4.7% since 2020
Typical home
$316K
+0.9% in a year
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
37.7
years
Jobs based here
3,426
A commuter town
TownGrade
B
#201 of 271 in MN
Is Crystal a good place to live?
Crystal grades B overall, ranked 201st of 271 in Minnesota, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $93K and it is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns. On the other side, its crime rate is higher than 77% of U.S. towns, with 60 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. On walkability, just 24 of Minnesota’s 574 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is Bassett Creek Park, at 80 acres.
What makes Crystal stand out
Where Crystal beats most towns.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Crystal for work
Where Crystal’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,426jobs based in Crystal
2%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Crystal grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Crystal is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.2 of 20; 7% of households have no carAOpen →Jobs & income3,426 jobs based hereAOpen →HealthNorth Memorial Health Hospital 2.1 miles awayAOpen →SafetyC−Open →SchoolsCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors8% conserved landAOpen →History3 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life3.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 74 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 70 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Crystal. Close and well known come first.
Big draw7 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
6 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
8 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
14 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
7 mi LakeBde Maka Ska
6 mi WaterfallSaint Anthony FallsSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bde Maka Ska: Tyler Vigen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Saint Anthony Falls: The original uploader was Mulad at English Wikipedia., Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Crystal: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Crystal, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCrystal water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpHire your ownNo town pickup: you hire a private haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHennepin County Gov't CenterHennepin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2021
ZIP codes55427, 55428, 55422, 5542955427 28% · 55428 27% · 55422 23% · 55429 22%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Crystal.
Crystal sends most of its workers to Minneapolis and beyond and has cooler summers than most of the country, though not than most of Minnesota.
OutdoorsA
7.7% of Crystal is conserved land
Crystal sits above both Minnesota’s towns (4.6%) and U.S. towns (4.3%) on this measure. 4.0 miles of trail in 25 parks and preserves. The trail density in Crystal is 0.7 miles per square mile.
#81for trails in MN
| Crystal | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 7.7% | 4.6% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
7.7%
conserved · 286 of 3,733 acres
4.0 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. MAC Wildlife Area | 1.1 mi | 49 |
| 2. Hagemeister Pond Park Reserve | 0.4 mi | 8 |
| 3. Lions Valley Place Park | 0.3 mi | 20 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Crystal’s schools rank behind 67% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Robbinsdale Public School District. Two of its 8 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
33%of MN districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacon AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 524 | C− |
| Robbinsdale Transition CenterLargest public high schoolGrades 12 | Grades 12 | 49 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Crystal’s grade for health is an A
29% of adults have obesity in Crystal, against 35% in Minnesota’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 29% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Crystal. Crystal beats the Minnesota average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Crystal | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 35% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 36% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.2% | 10% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 12% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
7 better21 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Crystal | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 8.2% | 10.1% |
| Fewer adults with obesity | 28.5% | 33.5% |
| More adults facing housing insecurity | 11.2% | 9.3% |
North Memorial Health Hospital
2.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
76th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyC−
Crystal’s grade for safety is a C−
Crystal’s property crime rate is 22.4 per 1,000 residents. Crystal reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 77% report less. Crystal’s violent crime rate is 2.8 per 1,000 residents.
23%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| Crystal | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 22.4 per 1,000 residents | 8.6 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.1 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Crystal2.8
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Crystal22.4
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
23rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
13th
percentile among MN towns
60
violent crimes reported in 2025
488
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Most working residents commute out of Crystal
Crystal has 3,426 jobs for its 11,958 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Crystal for work: only 2% work in town. 21% of Crystal workers work from home. The top destinations are Minneapolis (19%), Plymouth (7%) and St.
2%work in town
| Crystal | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 21% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.4% | 9.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Crystal2%
Minneapolis19%
Plymouth7%
St. Paul5%
Golden Valley5%
7 mi
median commute distance
3,426
jobs based in Crystal
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 90% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Crystal, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
July afternoons average 82.4°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 88% of Minnesota places with climate records; January nights average 6.3°.
Crystal has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. About 54 inches of snow falls in a winter.
54″snow a winter
| Crystal | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 6°F | 6°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer60–80°
Fall39–57°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B−
The typical home in Crystal is valued at about $316K
The typical Crystal home is worth about $316,000, up 0.9% in a year, 10% below the Minnesota typical home.
$316KZillow home value
Typical home value
Crystal$316K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
12
days on market
103.1%
sale-to-list price
+0.9%
value change, 1 year
34
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Crystal
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 58% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 14 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Crystal.
58risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
14
paid flood claims since 1978
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
An age mix much like Minnesota’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Minnesota average. Crystal has lost 4.7% of its people since 2020, down to 22,239 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 37% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 39% across Minnesota.
37.7median age · MN 38.8
| Crystal | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 years | 39.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 37% | 33% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 21% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 18% | 18% |
CrystalMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school24%
Some college20%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.6 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Crystal | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.8% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 16.6% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.1% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.6% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.1% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.4% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.1% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.5% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.1% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.1% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.4% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.6% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Crystal
20pages on Crystal
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 67% of MN districts · 8 schoolsSafetyC−2.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than MN on 7 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$316K typical home · up 0.9% in a yearWork & commuteA$93K median household income · 3,426 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 58% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
29 within 15 miles of the center of Crystal
Hennepin Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Brooklyn Park4.5 mi$5,940 in-state tuitionHerzing University-MinneapolisUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · St. Louis Park4.8 mi$13,450 tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity or college · Public · Minneapolis7.5 mi$17,214 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Crystal residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
Famous people from Crystal
3 notable people were born in Crystal.
About Crystal
City in Minnesota, United States
Crystal is a suburban city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, about 5 miles (8.0 km) from downtown Minneapolis. The population was 23,330 at the 2020 census. Minnesota State Highway 100 and County Road 81 are two of Crystal's main routes.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1866
- Area
- 5.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 892 ft
- Area code
- 763
Crystal’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Crystal.
New HopeRobbinsdaleBrooklyn CenterGolden ValleyCrystal
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal | #201 | B | B− | C− | C | A |
| New Hope | #231 | C+ | C | C+ | C | A− |
| Robbinsdale | #241 | C+ | C | C | C | A− |
| Brooklyn Center | #261 | C | B− | D | C+ | B |
| Golden Valley | #155 | B+ | C− | B+ | C+ | A+ |
Questions about Crystal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Crystal, MN a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Crystal grades B overall, better than 57% of U.S. towns and #201 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades A for health, C− for safety and C for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Crystal, MN expensive?
That is 3.2 years of the area's median household income ($99,833 across the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
What is Crystal, MN known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Todd Richards and Travis Richards.