Preston’s trail network density is 1.2 miles per square mile, above both Iowa’s towns (0.3) and U.S. towns (0.4). Preston has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

What makes Preston stand out

Where Preston beats most towns.

0historic places

History

Settled in 1870

A long history

A history going back 156 years.

Small town

935 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Spragueville · 2 mi Miles · 4 mi Goose Lake · 6 mi Charlotte · 7 mi Andover · 9 mi Springbrook · 9 mi

Preston Iowa 20090125 Cafe, 2009

Preston’s story

156 years in pictures

Census counts: 489 in 1890, 949 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1935 on.

1870Preston is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Preston: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Preston, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterPreston Muni Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Preston’s trash rules yet

SchoolsEaston Valley Community School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereJackson County AuditorJackson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021

ZIP code5206952069 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Preston.

Natural hazards

Top of a high hazard risk in Preston: inland flooding

Storm and flood damage is expected to run higher than in 74% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 47% of Preston’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 13% to drought. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Preston once, in 2002.

74risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes

federal disasters paid out here

Full pagePreston’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters1 federal disaster · Paid out in Preston Get ready1.4 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Schools

The schools Preston’s kids attend

Its one school is below. Preston’s only public school teaches 198 students.

School	Level	Students	Letter
Easton Valley Junior High / High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12	Grades 7–12	198	C⁺

Full pagePreston’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsEaston Valley Comm School District Every school1 school · Easton Valley Junior High / High School Questions“Are Preston’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts

Who lives here

Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Preston’s residents are under 18

25% of residents are 65 or older in Preston, against 19% in Iowa’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Its midpoint age comes in at 46.1 years. In Preston, 27% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.

46.1median age · IA 38.6

	Preston	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Under 18	14%	23%	22%
Median age	46.1 years	38.7 years	40.5 years
Aged 65 or older	25%	19%	18%

PrestonIowaUnited States

IAU.S.

Ages · share of residents

23%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma4%

High school43%

Some college17%

Associate’s9%

Bachelor’s22%

Graduate5%

Women and men · all residents

48% women, 52% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.5 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Preston
	Preston	IA	U.S.
Under 10	8.6%	12.2%	11.6%
10 to 17	4.9%	10.7%	10.3%
18 to 24	4.5%	10%	9.1%
25 to 34	23%	12.5%	13.7%
35 to 44	5.5%	12.6%	13.2%
45 to 54	12.9%	11.3%	12.2%
55 to 64	16%	12.6%	12.7%
65 to 74	15.5%	10.6%	10.2%
75 and older	9.1%	7.6%	7%
No diploma	3.9%	6.7%	10.4%
High school	43.1%	30%	26%
Some college	17.2%	19.7%	19.1%
Associate’s	8.6%	12.1%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	22.3%	20.9%	21.6%
Graduate	4.9%	10.5%	14.1%

Full pagePreston by the numbersOpen the page

Ages46.1 median age · 25% are 65 or older Schooling27% have a four-year degree Homes73% own their home · Homeowners Income$74K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 900, single groups can be off by several points

Climate

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Preston

In July, afternoons reach 84°; in January, nights fall to 13°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.

32″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter16–32°

Spring38–59°

Summer61–82°

Fall41–62°

Oct 16

typical first frost

Apr 25

typical last frost

+1.0°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pagePreston’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 84°, January lows 13°Rain & snow32″ of snow a winter · 38 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commute

About one in ten working residents works right in Preston

In Preston, the average commute is 24 minutes. Jobs in Preston grew by 55 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 441. 13% of Preston residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Clinton (19%), Maquoketa (8%) and Dubuque (6%).

10%work in town

	Preston	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Working residents who work in town	10%	31%	8%
Average trip to work	24 minutes	19 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	13%	11%	9.6%

Where working residents work

In Preston10%

Clinton19%

Maquoketa8%

Dubuque6%

DeWitt4%

18 mi

median commute distance

441

jobs based in Preston

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

Full pagePreston’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here441 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work10% work in Preston Commute times24 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 18 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Safety

Crime reported in Preston

In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.

Preston is small, so we show counts rather than rates.

violent crimes reported in 2025

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pagePreston’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by typeReported in 2025 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Questions“Is Preston, IA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Health

More of Preston’s adults sleep under 7 hours than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town

For adults in Preston, the share who report frequent physical distress is 14%. Among adults locally, 20% binge drink and 41% have obesity.

	Preston	Iowa towns	U.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	38%	32%	36%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	20%	20%	16%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	41%	38%	35%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	17%	15%	14%

32 measures vs. Iowa

0 better26 too close to call6 worse

What stands out	Preston	IA
More older adults who have lost all their teeth	16.7%	11.6%
More adults with COPD	8.7%	6.9%
More adults who have had a stroke	4%	3.3%

Jackson County Regional Health Center

14.3 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, mental health

Full pagePreston’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby14.3 miles to an ER · Jackson County Regional Health Center How adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distress Every CDC estimateBetter than IA on 0 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Housing

Zillow puts the typical Preston home at about $232K

Preston’s rent at the middle of the market stands at $765 a month. Values rose 5.6% in the 12 months to September 2026. Among households here, 73% own their home.

$232KZillow home value