Crystal receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Crystal
Hastings
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs48 · Bottom 33%
Growth
41 · Bottom 33%
vs30 · Bottom 18%
Climate
54 · Bottom 3%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 7%
vs86 · Top 15%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 19%
vs95 · Top 19%
Access
95 · Top 35%
vs91 · Bottom 48%
Economic stability
75 · Top 17%
vs76 · Top 14%
Measured values
| Metric | Crystal | Hastings | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,476 | 22,117 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $92,513 | $93,998 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,831 | $44,593 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,885/sq mi | 2,136/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $296,100 | $322,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,467 | $1,183 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.9% | 76.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | -1.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 30.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 5.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 26 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 300.0% | -38.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 30.7" | 29.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 26.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 41.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Crystal
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Hastings
Elevated or high exposure: strong wind, hail.
Full profiles: Crystal, MN · Hastings, MN · How this is calculated: methodology