Lake Crystal is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, home to about 2,606 people across 1.7 square miles. Its ZIP code is 56055.
Homes sold for a median of $120 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Lake Crystal; also Judson and Garden City
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Lake Crystal. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Lake Crystal’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Lake Crystal well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)72 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Minneapolis, MN75 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL366 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Lake Crystal; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Lake Crystal had 2,539 residents in the 2020 census, up 5% since 2000.
It’s the 270th largest of 2,727 towns in Minnesota by population.
Blue Earth County grew from 32,263 residents in 1900 to 69,112 in 2020.
Blue Earth County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 82°F in summer, and winter lows average 6°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 39 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Mankato, MN weather station (10 miles away).
35,883 jobs at 1,992 businesses in Blue Earth County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
9 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Lake Crystal.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 2 |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 1 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 2 |
| Mental health providers | 1 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
| Pharmacies | 1 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (2 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lcwm EcseLake Crystal | Pre-K | 28 | Special Education | 1.5 mi |
| Lk Crystal Wellcome Memorial ElLake Crystal | Pre-K–5 | 423 | Public | 1.2 mi |
| Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial SecLake Crystal | 6–12 | 506 | Public | 1.5 mi |
| Lcwm AlpLake Crystal | 9–12 | — | Alternative Education | 1.5 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Lake Crystal? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Judson, Garden City, Butternut Valley, South Bend, Cambria and Lincoln Township (Blue Earth County).
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.