The Town FilesCrystal, Minnesota
City in Hennepin County · population 23,330 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,100
- Household income
- $92,513
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 37.7
Crystal is a city of 23,330 people in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $296,100, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 97% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 97% of Minnesota towns.
How Crystal ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Crystal is worth $296,100, close to the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $92,513, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,467 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crystal | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,467 | $991 |
| Median household income | $92,513 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Crystal
| People | Crystal | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 21.3% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 90.2% |
Weather in Crystal
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 30.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 482 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 262 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 11, 1963.
Severe weather in Hennepin County since 1996
Hennepin County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hennepin County
Hennepin County had 917,117 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,157 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Crystal itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Crystal
6 public schools with 1,760 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEACON ACADEMY (charter) | K-8 | 521 | 11.3 |
| FOREST ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 454 | 16.2 |
| The FAIR School - Crystal | 6-8 | 381 | 18.1 |
| NEILL ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 358 | 11.2 |
| ROBBINSDALE TRANSITION CENTER | 12-12 | 46 | 11.5 |
| ADULT ACADEMICS | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Crystal
- New Hope, MN1.3 mi · 21,986 people · home $337,000
- Robbinsdale, MN1.7 mi · 14,646 people · home $295,600
- Brooklyn Center, MN2.9 mi · 33,782 people · home $274,300
- Golden Valley, MN3.3 mi · 22,552 people · home $431,400
- Brooklyn Park, MN5.1 mi · 86,478 people · home $336,200
- Plymouth, MN5.2 mi · 81,026 people · home $491,200
- Columbia Heights, MN5.6 mi · 21,973 people · home $277,600
- Fridley, MN5.8 mi · 29,590 people · home $302,900
Crystal questions
Is Crystal, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crystal scores better for retirees than 4% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 3%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Crystal?
The median owner-occupied home in Crystal is valued at $296,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,513, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,467 a month.
What is the weather like in Crystal?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.7 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Crystal get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)