Preston is a small town of 5,668 in Idaho, with a median household income of $51,914
and a 0.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Preston stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, 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: 92.9
Preston's overall cost of living index is 92.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Preston costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Preston, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$246,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$764
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,914
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Preston's violent crime rate is 63.7 per 100,000 residents
— 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
63.7 /100k
Property Crime
382.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Preston is served primarily by PRESTON JOINT DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Preston, ID
National Avg
School District
PRESTON JOINT DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Preston sees average highs of 32.3°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 17.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 52.4 inches of snow per year.
Preston's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Preston roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $246,100 and median rent is $764/month.
Preston's violent crime rate is 63.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 382.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Preston are operated by PRESTON JOINT DISTRICT.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.5:1. 13.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Preston, ID has a population of 5,668, a median household income of $51,914, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%.
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 32.3°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.3 inches
with about 52.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Preston, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83263.
The population of Preston, Idaho is 5,668 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Preston: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $246,100, median household income $51,914, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. 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.
