City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Lake Crystal, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lake Crystal - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,530
Residents
$77,979
Median income
$193,800
Median home
$1,171
Median rent (state)

Lake Crystal - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lake Crystal places in the 59th percentile for household income and the 87th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

59th
percentile, household income
41st
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
87th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lake Crystal, MN

2,530 people live in Lake Crystal, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Lake Crystal brings in $77,979 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Typical homes in Lake Crystal are valued around $193,800, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. 22.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 69.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 7 residential building permits were authorized in Lake Crystal (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Lake Crystal reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 442.3 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,171 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 72.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

2,530 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$77,979 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Lake Crystal compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lake Crystal stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 41% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities
Safety 87% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Minnesota, Lake Crystal ranks #65 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lake Crystal against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Minnesota's city distribution

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Lake Crystal ranks #203 - the 74th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lake Crystal only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#275 of 775
65th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#270 of 785
64th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#330 of 774
57th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#203 of 785
74th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#331 of 784
57th percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

59thIncome percentile
87thSafety percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income · 87th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lake Crystal's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lake Crystal's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 70 Avg. percentile National median
Lake Crystal's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lake Crystal's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$193,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 59% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lake Crystal $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lake Crystal, MN Lake Crystal, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lake Crystal, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lake Crystal, MN median $77,979/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lake Crystal, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lake Crystal, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,530
Median Income
$77,979
Median Home Value
$193,800
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
69.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
442.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
120.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
321.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,450 residents2,500 residents2,550 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,541 residents 2,470 residents ▼ -2.8%
Lake Crystal's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 8
2021 4
2022 4
2023 1
2024 7

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.9%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
4.0%

Based on 1,308 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lake Crystal sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,171/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
72.2 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Sandstone
2,538 people
Rockville
2,521 people
Le Center
2,514 people
Mayer
2,501 people
Wabasha
2,569 people
Paynesville
2,476 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Crystal's 2,530 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sterling Ranch, CO
2,530 people
Richmond, IL
2,530 people
Spring Lake, MI
2,530 people
Rock Hill, NY
2,530 people
Chase City, VA
2,530 people
Westbrook Center, CT
2,529 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Crystal's $77,979 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Highland, CA
$77,979 median income
Travis Ranch, TX
$77,979 median income
Pawnee, IL
$77,977 median income
Wakefield, PA
$77,976 median income
Hood River, OR
$77,975 median income
Hampton, GA
$77,973 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lake Crystal, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lake Crystal, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.6% White 95.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 2.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lake Crystal compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lake Crystal (this city) 2,530 $77,979
Sandstone 2,538 $50,288
Rockville 2,521 $101,447
Le Center 2,514 $66,864
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lake Crystal, MN?

What is the population of Lake Crystal, MN? +

Lake Crystal, MN has a population of 2,530 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lake Crystal, MN? +

The median household income in Lake Crystal is $77,979 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lake Crystal? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lake Crystal; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is Lake Crystal, MN safe? +

Lake Crystal has a total crime rate of 442.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lake Crystal, MN? +

A typical home in Lake Crystal is worth $193,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.