Convenience and affordability northwest of Minneapolis
Crystal, Minnesota, is a suburban city northeast of Minneapolis, just west of Minnesota Highway 100, one of the Twin Cities' main arteries. “It’s a close-in suburb,” says Kath Hammerseng, a Realtor with Sohus Real Estate Group, part of Edina Realty. That convenient location is a major draw, as is the city’s relatively affordable midcentury homes. “Affordability is high there,” Hammerseng says. “Highway 100 tends to be a little bit of a divider. As you push out, you do so by beltways or major freeways, and Highway 100 is one of those lines.”
From their spot between the cities of Robbinsdale and New Hope, residents can enjoy Crystal’s parks, restaurants, and shopping areas, and the Crystal Frolics, an annual city-wide event. The city doesn’t have formal homeowners’ associations. “It is very much a live and let live community,” Hammerseng says. “They also don’t have as many controlling ordinances in Crystal compared to New Hope.”
Healthcare and retail are significant sectors in Crystal. Major employers in the Twin Cities area include Target’s corporate headquarters and the University of Minnesota.
Crystal residents enjoy access to an abundance of nature recreation.
The City of Crystal is home to 22,000 residents.
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Midcentury homes at relatively affordable prices
Crystal neighborhoods were largely built in the midcentury, and tend to feature similar styles, mostly ranch-style homes and half-stories, with some bi-levels mixed in. The median home price is about $320,000, lower than the national median. “The low $200s will be a ranch house, the low $400s will be a nicer two-story if they’re all finished,” says Brent Peterson, a Realtor with Re/Max Results. “The half-stories will be somewhere in between.”
While similar overall, neighborhoods have distinct features that impact prices to some degree, such as the lakes in Cavanaugh Oaks. The relative affordability means a diverse set of residents from across age groups and demographics. “It’s a very eclectic group of people,” Peterson says. “That’s a good thing about it. It’s a melting pot of Minnesota for sure.”
Most homes in Crystal, MN feature smaller floorplans and lot sizes.
Mid-20th century, single-story homes are another abundant house style in Crystal, MN.
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Major thoroughfares and a planned light rail expansion
Minnesota Highway 100 and County Road 81 are two routes that connect to the rest of the area. “100 goes north and south and is a major through artery for the Twin Cities,” Peterson says. Interstate 94 runs about 4 miles north. Buses run along major streets, and the Twin Cities light rail system is expected to begin serving Crystal in 2030. Downtown Minneapolis is about 10 miles away and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is about 22 miles southwest. North Memorial Health’s Robbinsdale Hospital is under 4 miles away.
Neighborhood schools in Robbinsdale Area School District
Families in Crystal can send students to the Robbinsdale Area School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche. Many of the schools are in Crystal neighborhoods: Forest Elementary is in the Forest neighborhood, and the magnet arts middle school, FAIR School-Crystal, is in the Fair neighborhood. Two high schools, Cooper and Armstrong, serve the area. The University of Minnesota is about 13 miles away for households with college students.
Robbinsdale Cooper Senior High School enrolls over 1,700 students in grades 9-12.
Teachers take pride in their students at Robbinsdale Middle School.
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Milton’s serves up classic American fare
Crystal has plenty of shopping and dining close at hand. The Crystal Shopping Center near the Becker and Broadway neighborhoods has a Target and other chains. Local no-frills restaurants like Big Louie’s and SteveO’s Bar and Grill line Broadway, as do several well-regarded eateries in downtown Robbinsdale. “Folks definitely head into Robbinsdale,” Peterson says. “Nouvelle Brewing by Travail is there. They’re a hit.” Milton’s, near the @Brownwood neighborhood, is another local favorite that serves American fare. A Cub Foods, an Aldi and Almsted’s Fresh Market provide residents with several choices for grocery shopping.
Cozy up to the bar or enjoy patio seating at Milton's Vittles, Vinos, and Beer in Crystal, MN.
Aldi serves Crystal residents with budget-friendly groceries.
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Frisbee golf and more at Basset Creek Park
Crystal is home to several significant parks. The Bassett Creek neighborhood is home to its namesake park. “Bassett Creek Park is amazing,” Hammerseng says. “It’s got a wooded area, frisbee golf, ponds, a workout path, and there’s a bridge over Highway 100 to the actual Bassett Creek, which runs all through Crystal.” Grogan Park in the Welcome Park neighborhood hosts the Crystal Skatepark, the community center and the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center. Becker Park is home to an upgraded and inclusive play structure.
The Crystal Cove Aquatic Center is located within Grogan Park in Crystal neighborhood.
Running/walking trails weave in and around the neighborhoods of Crystal, MN.
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Crystal Frolics and proximity to Minneapolis’s cultural offerings
Crystal hosts the annual Crystal Frolics during a July weekend. “That’s the big thing,” Peterson says. “There’s a parade and events surrounding that. It’s the claim to fame.” The Crystal Farmers Market runs from June through September. For museums, professional sports, concerts and a huge quantity and range of theater, residents can take the short trip into Minneapolis.
Important to know
According to the Crystal Police Department’s 2023 report, counts of both violent and property crime have generally declined since the previous year. As one might expect for a Twin Cities suburb, winters are cold and snowy, with single-digit average low temperatures and almost 5 feet of snow per year on average.
Jay Hancock is the owner and team leader of Jay Hancock Real Estate, licensed at Keller Williams Integrity in Edina, MN. Having been active in selling real estate since 2014 as a multi-award-winning Minnesota real estate agent and team leader, we now operate as a high-volume real estate company with over 300 million dollars in real estate sold to date.
It's evident my approach to the home buying and selling process is radically different than a traditional real estate agent. Raving reviews from clients as well as countless listing and purchase success stories are a testimony to the unique, personable, and calculated approach I have developed. I understand that the decision to buy or sell a home is not to be taken lightly and requires a group of people dedicated toward the same goal of making your move or sale as successful, worry-free, and seamless as possible.
My multifaceted and proven strategies bring ethics, energy, education, dedication, and diligence to every client relationship. Instead of wanting to simply sell homes, I focus on building relationships with each and every one of my clients. I take time to know you personally, so we can bring your vision to life using my expertise and experience along with purposeful relationships. My ultimate goal is to earn lifelong clients who are an extension of my family and are eager to recommend us to family and friends.
Our company is comprised of 2 full-time real estate agents, a full-time executive assistant Ashley, and a showing assistant. I have found having an experienced team of people working on your behalf, instead of just an individual agent, means no detail will go overlooked, and someone will always be available to help you.
Jay personally has earned many awards and accolades for his achievements in the real estate industry. Some of these include his previous companies Remax Diamond Award, Over a million dollars in commission the Titan Award, Remax Platinum Award, Remax 100% Club, and Remax Hall of Fame. I am currently ranked among the top 20 Agents in the State of Minnesota for the number of homes sold. Please give me a call or send an email to jay@jayhancockrealestate.com.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
