Preston is a small town of 2,181 in Texas, with a median household income of $57,801
and a 8.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Preston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, 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: 91.8
Preston's overall cost of living index is 91.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Preston costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Preston, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$149,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,527
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,801
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Preston's violent crime rate is 230.5 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
230.5 /100k
Property Crime
1262.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Preston is served primarily by POTTSBORO ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Preston, TX
National Avg
School District
POTTSBORO ISD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Preston sees average highs of 52.6°F in January
and 92.5°F in July,
with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.9 inches of snow per year.
Preston's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Preston roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $149,600 and median rent is $1,527/month.
Preston's violent crime rate is 230.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1262.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Preston are operated by POTTSBORO ISD.
The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 8.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Preston, TX has a population of 2,181, a median household income of $57,801, and an unemployment rate of 8.8%.
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 52.6°F in January and 92.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches
with about 1.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Preston, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 75076.
The population of Preston, Texas is 2,181 with a median age of 47.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Preston: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $149,600, median household income $57,801, crime index 60 (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.
