Preston is a small town of 344 in Missouri, with a median household income of $30,536
and a 7.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Preston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 88.2
Preston's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Preston costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Preston, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$120,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$595
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,536
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Preston's violent crime rate is 167.6 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.6 /100k
Property Crime
482.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Preston, MO
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
5.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Preston sees average highs of 42.3°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 45.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 9.0 inches of snow per year.
Preston's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Preston roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $120,800 and median rent is $595/month.
Preston's violent crime rate is 167.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 482.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Preston, MO has a population of 344, a median household income of $30,536, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%.
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 42.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.6 inches
with about 9.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Preston, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65732.
The population of Preston, Missouri is 344 with a median age of 32.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Preston: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $120,800, median household income $30,536, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.