MOMap-doton-Preston, 2004
Preston’s story
169 years in pictures
Census counts: 32 in 1880, a peak of 223 in 2010, 157 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1884 on.
- 1857Preston is platted
PrestonMO
The town was platted in 1857 and has 181 residents today.
Population
181
2025 Census estimate · +10.4% since 2020
Typical home
$203K
+11.6% in a year
Household income
$40K
median
Median age
37.6
years
Jobs based here
94
A job hub
Is Preston a good place to live?
Preston’s average commute is 40 minutes, where Missouri’s towns sit at 22 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. No town among the 248 in Missouri we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Preston. 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.
Small town
181 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Preston: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Preston, and how to reach them.
PowerSouthwest Electric Coop12.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of Preston Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Preston’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Missouri you can register online until 27 days before Election Day, in person until 27 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 27 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereHickoryHickory County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code6573265732 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.
Work & commute
With 1.8 jobs for every working resident, Preston draws in 94 commuters
Employers in Preston added 48 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 94. The share of residents in Preston who live below the poverty line: 31%. The top destinations are Springfield (10%), Wheatland (8%) and Hermitage (6%). The town’s typical household income comes in at $40,000.
0%work in town
| Preston | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 31% | 14% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $40,000 | $62,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Preston0%
Springfield10%
Wheatland8%
Hermitage6%
Bolivar6%
46 mi
median commute distance
94
jobs based in Preston
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
The median rent in Preston is lower than in most of Missouri or the rest of the country
The typical home value in Preston is about $203,000, up 11.6% in a year, 23% below the Missouri typical home. 62% of households live in a home they own here.
$203KZillow home value
| Preston | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $577 a month | $971 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 62% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Preston$203K
Missouri$265K
+11.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Top of a high hazard risk in Preston: inland flooding
Federal aid has come to Preston households in 2 declared disasters; the latest was in 2006. Compared with 69% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage here is higher. FEMA puts 46% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 12% to tornadoes.
69risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Preston
A winter brings about 9 inches of snow, with January nights at 22° and July afternoons at 88°.
9″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–45°
Spring44–67°
Summer65–87°
Fall46–68°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Preston stands out in Missouri and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent physical distress
Preston: 46% of adults have high blood pressure. Only 9 of the 248 Missouri towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Preston. Against the Missouri average, Preston comes out ahead on 2 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 17.
| Preston | Missouri towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 37% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Missouri
2 better13 too close to call17 worse
| What stands out | Preston | MO |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.1% | 77.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.7% | 8% |
Citizens Memorial Hospital
24.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Preston
16pages on Preston
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Preston; the nearest are
Bolivar Technical CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Bolivar24.7 mi$28,390 tuitionMissouri State University-SpringfieldUniversity or college · Public · Springfield51.4 mi$9,502 in-state tuitionState Fair Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sedalia52.3 mi$4,176 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Preston residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Missouri.
A job hub
Every workday, about 94 people come to Preston for work
Where Preston’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
94jobs based in Preston
0%of working residents work in town
46 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Preston
Village in Hickory County, Missouri, United States
Preston is a village in Hickory County, Missouri, United States. The population was 157 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,043 ft
- ZIP code
- 65732
Questions about Preston
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Preston, MO a good place to live?
Preston has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.