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
North St. Paul
Opportunity
49 · Bottom 35%
vs45 · Bottom 25%
Growth
41 · Bottom 33%
vs35 · Bottom 24%
Climate
54 · Bottom 3%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 7%
vs93 · Top 8%
Housing affordability
95 · Top 19%
vs92 · Top 28%
Access
95 · Top 35%
vs94 · Top 41%
Economic stability
75 · Top 17%
vs71 · Top 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Crystal | North St. Paul | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,476 | 12,570 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $92,513 | $84,797 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,831 | $37,387 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,885/sq mi | 4,400/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $296,100 | $298,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,467 | $1,352 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.9% | 68.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.1% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | 31.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 11.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 44 | 6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 0.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 300.0% | -14.3% | 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 | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 23.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.7 | 35.2 | 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.
North St. Paul
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Crystal
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
North St. Paul
69
Your Score
65
Area Score
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Full profiles: Crystal, MN · North St. Paul, MN · How this is calculated: methodology