What are the schools like in Crystal, MN?

Crystal is served primarily by ROBBINSDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 10 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.8:1.

What is the median household income in Crystal?

The median household income in Crystal, MN is $86,288 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

What is the weather like in Crystal, MN?

Crystal has an average high temperature of 23.9°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 54.3 inches.

Crystal, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Crystal, MN affordable or expensive?

Crystal's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Crystal is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $262,800 and the median rent is $1,351 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Crystal, MN?

Crystal has a violent crime rate of 279.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2225.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Crystal, MN a Good Place to Live?

Crystal is a small city of 22,954 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $86,288 and a 2.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Crystal stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Crystal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Crystal city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 104.5

Crystal's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Crystal costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Crystal, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$262,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,351	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,288	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Crystal's violent crime rate is 279.4 per 100,000 residents — 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

279.4 /100k

Property Crime

2225.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Crystal is served primarily by ROBBINSDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Crystal, MN	National Avg
School District	ROBBINSDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	10	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Crystal sees average highs of 23.9°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 30.7 inches of annual precipitation and 54.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Crystal, MN
Average High — January	23.9°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	30.7"
Annual Snowfall	54.3"

Demographics

Metric	Crystal, MN	National Avg
Population	22,954	—
Median Age	37.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	15.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.8%	18.9%
Asian	4.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	14.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Hope, MN 1 mi Robbinsdale, MN 2 mi Brooklyn Center, MN 3 mi Golden Valley, MN 3 mi Medicine Lake, MN 4 mi

Crystal vs Other Cities

Crystal, MN vs New Hope, MN Crystal, MN vs Robbinsdale, MN Crystal, MN vs Brooklyn Center, MN Crystal, MN vs Golden Valley, MN Crystal, MN vs Medicine Lake, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Crystal, MN affordable or expensive?

Crystal's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Crystal roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $262,800 and median rent is $1,351/month.

What is the crime rate in Crystal, MN?

Crystal's violent crime rate is 279.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2225.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Crystal?

Public schools in Crystal are operated by ROBBINSDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 12 elementary, 4 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 35.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Crystal, MN a good place to live?

Crystal, MN has a population of 22,954, a median household income of $86,288, and an unemployment rate of 2.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Crystal?

Crystal averages 23.9°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.7 inches with about 54.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Crystal?

The population of Crystal, Minnesota is 22,954 with a median age of 37.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Crystal?

Key numbers for living in Crystal: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $262,800, median household income $86,288, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Crystal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.