Preston is a small town of 1,005 in Iowa, with a median household income of $81,542
and a 0.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Preston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Preston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Preston city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.7
Preston's overall cost of living index is 89.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Preston costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Preston, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$147,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$731
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$81,542
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Preston's violent crime rate is 149.2 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
149.2 /100k
Property Crime
1070.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Preston is served primarily by Easton Valley Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Preston, IA
National Avg
School District
Easton Valley Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Preston sees average highs of 26.7°F in January
and 82.2°F in July,
with 36.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.3 inches of snow per year.
Preston's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Preston roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $147,900 and median rent is $731/month.
Preston's violent crime rate is 149.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1070.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Preston are operated by Easton Valley Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.7:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Preston, IA has a population of 1,005, a median household income of $81,542, and an unemployment rate of 0.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Preston averages 26.7°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.7 inches
with about 30.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Preston, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52069.
The population of Preston, Iowa is 1,005 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Preston: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $147,900, median household income $81,542, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Preston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
