Crystal receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
North St. Paul
Crystal
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 25%
vs49 · Bottom 35%
Growth
35 · Bottom 24%
vs41 · Bottom 33%
Climate
55 · Bottom 5%
vs54 · Bottom 3%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 8%
vs93 · Top 7%
Housing affordability
92 · Top 28%
vs95 · Top 19%
Access
94 · Top 41%
vs95 · Top 35%
Economic stability
71 · Top 27%
vs75 · Top 17%
Measured values
| Metric | North St. Paul | Crystal | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,570 | 22,476 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $84,797 | $92,513 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,387 | $44,831 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,400/sq mi | 3,885/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $298,500 | $296,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,352 | $1,467 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.2% | 76.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 8.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6 | 44 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.5 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -14.3% | 300.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 7°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.2" | 30.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.2 | 37.7 | 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
North St. Paul
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Crystal
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.
North St. Paul
69
Your Score
65
Area Score
Crystal
72
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: North St. Paul, MN · Crystal, MN · How this is calculated: methodology