Photo: Jonathunder · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Preston is healthier than 64%
Preston differs from Minnesota on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Preston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Preston
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Preston
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.6%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Preston runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Preston, and more people treating it
38.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 80% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 20 miles from Preston
The closest emergency room is Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, 20.2 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Preston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Preston is healthier than 45%. Against the 9,728 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 64%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Minnesota figure falls outside Preston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Preston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Preston is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 76% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 15%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Preston’s median household income is $63,984; among the 9,728 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 64%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Preston compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80% (U.S. 76.5%); colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75), 73.5% (U.S. 65.5%).
Out of every 100 Preston adults…
Preston runs above MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Preston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Care in and near Preston
No hospital or community health center in Preston itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Preston; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Preston adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Preston adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9% of Preston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Preston and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston | C+ | 41% | 12.6% | 16.2% | CDC place |
| Preston Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Carrolton Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Fountain Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Carimona Township | — | — | — | — |
Preston Township, Carrolton Township, Fountain Township and Carimona Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Preston adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Preston
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Preston is better than Minnesota on 2 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Preston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Preston | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%15.7–22.9 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.9–16.2 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.3–17.6 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%33.8–49.1 | 33.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.8–14.7 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.1%34–42.4 | 31% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%32.9–41.5 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.1–31.9 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.7–12 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.1–9.2 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.6–4.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.5–16.7 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%12.8–19.7 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27%22.1–32.4 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.7–19.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%24.7–36.5 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%5.6–10.3 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%72.9–80.1 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.5%61–67.7 | 67.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.2%83.9–88.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77.2–82.6 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.5%68.9–77.5 | 68.7% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%68.4–82.3 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%20.4–27.6 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.7%24–33.9 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.3%16.8–24.1 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.7%8.9–15.1 | 11.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.8%6.9–10.9 | 9.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.7%4.7–6.9 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7%5.7–8.5 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%6.7–11.8 | 7.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.5%28.6–38.9 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.3%12.5–18.2 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%11.5–16.3 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.2–10.8 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.1–5.9 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.6%7.1–10.2 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.3–4.8 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Minnesota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Preston
Is Preston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Preston is healthier than 45% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Preston?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.8% and 49.1%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Preston?
Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, 20.2 miles in a straight line from Preston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Preston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–10.3%), against 7.5% across Minnesota.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Preston more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Preston.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.