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Preston TownshipPA

A town of 1,013, settled in 1838. Public schools that outperform most of Pennsylvania.

Population
1,013
2025 Census estimate · +1.9% since 2020
Median home value
$231K
Census ACS
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
56.3
years
Jobs based here
239
A commuter town

Is Preston Township a good place to live?

Preston Township’s best subject grade is an A− for schools; its weakest is a D for walkability. 36% of residents are 65 or older in Preston Township, against 21% in Pennsylvania’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. Only 132 of Pennsylvania’s 1,749 towns score lower on walkability. Preston Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

StrongestA−SchoolsWeakestDWalkabilityC−Jobs & income

What makes Preston Township stand out

Where Preston Township beats most towns.

Wayne Highlands SD schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Preston SchK–8143
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town

1,013 people, and everyone knows the way

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

Nearby towns
Starrucca · 4 miThompson · 6 miBuckingham Township · 6 miArarat Township · 7 miThompson Township · 7 miScott Township · 7 mi
Buckingham TownshipScott TownshipMount Pleasant TownshipStarruccaThompson TownshipBuckingham TownshipScott TownshipMount Pleasant TownshipStarruccaThompson TownshipPreston Township

How Preston Township grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Preston Township is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.5 of 20; 5.1% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →SchoolsA−Open →Jobs & income$71K median household incomeC−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $231K, 3.7 years of the county’s $62K median household incomeCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 39% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →HealthBarnes-Kasson County Hospital 12.1 miles awayC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2% conserved landC+Open →HistoryB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 56.3; 20% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Preston Township: who provides what

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

The full setup list →
PowerPenelecEIAHIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Preston Township’s trash rules yet
SchoolsWayne Highlands School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereWayne County Board of ElectionsWayne County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes18439, 18455, 18462, 1846518439 39% · 18455 13% · 18462 11% · 18465 11%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 Township.

SchoolsA−

Preston Township’s public schools outperform 84% of Pennsylvania districts

Its public schools are run by Wayne Highlands SD. Its one school is below.

84%of PA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Preston SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8Grades K–8143B−
Full pagePreston Township’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsWayne Highlands SDVs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighborEvery school1 school · Preston SchQuestions“Are Preston Township’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−

Preston Township has 0.6 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

Most working residents leave Preston Township for work: only 7% work in town. Preston Township’s average trip to work is 37 minutes, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 26 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Jobs based in Preston Township grew to 239 in 2023, 75 more than in 2013.

7%work in town
Preston TownshipPennsylvania townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work37 minutes26 minutes25 minutes
Below the poverty line12%7.6%9.6%
Median household income$71,000$81,000$80,000
Work from home9.9%12%11%

Where working residents work

In Preston Township7%
Honesdale6%
Forest City4%
Scranton3%
Hancock3%
30 mi
median commute distance
239
jobs based in Preston Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 10% of U.S. towns
Full pagePreston Township’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here239 jobs based here · A commuter townWhere people work7% work in Preston TownshipCommute times37 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 30 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Preston Township stands out in Pennsylvania and nationally, with a typical July afternoon cooler than most

Preston Township’s July high is 78°F. Preston Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain.

69″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter16–33°
Spring33–54°
Summer55–76°
Fall39–58°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 14
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pagePreston Township’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 78°, January lows 13°Rain & snow69″ of snow a winter · 49 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B

Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Preston Township

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 61% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Preston Township since 2010.

39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
39Low riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2010
Full pagePreston Township’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesLow riskFlood claimsSince 2010Past disasters22 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready1.3 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HealthC+

Preston Township is less healthy than 57% of U.S. towns

Preston Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 39% of adults have high blood pressure in Preston Township.

43%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
Preston TownshipPennsylvania townsU.S. towns
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)39%34%35%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)14%11%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)15%14%14%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)81%79%79%
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
2 better15 too close to call9 worse
What stands outPreston TownshipPA
More adults treating high blood pressure83.1%79.2%
More adults getting cholesterol checked87.8%85.3%
More adults with COPD10.1%7.7%
Barnes-Kasson County Hospital
12.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
Full pagePreston Township’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby12.1 miles to an ER · Barnes-Kasson County HospitalHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than PA on 2 of 26

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

OutdoorsC+

Preston Township has set aside 2.4% of its land for conservation

15 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.

2.4%conserved
Preston TownshipPennsylvania townsU.S. towns
Conserved land2.4%8.2%4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile0.3 miles per square mile0.40.4
2.4%
conserved · 778 of 32,790 acres
15 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
Full pagePreston Township’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map15 miles of trail, mappedPick a walkPick a walkConserved land2.4% conserved · 778 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Preston Township?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Preston Township

18pages on Preston Township
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 84% of PA districts · 1 schoolHealthC+Better than PA on 2 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingCWork & commuteC−$71K median household income · 239 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 39% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
OutdoorsC+15 mi of trails · 2% conserved landPlacesAttractions37 nearby · Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River 6 miLibraryNorthern Wayne Community LibraryColleges
The story
HistoryB+Settled 1838Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 338 residentsClimate78° summer highs · 69″ of snow
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Preston Township; the nearest are

Keystone CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · La Plume27.8 mi$18,300 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUniversity or college · Public · Dunmore30.3 mi$15,208 in-state tuitionSUNY Broome Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Binghamton, NY32.9 mi$8,624 in-state tuition

About 0 of every 100 Preston Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

93% of working residents leave Preston Township for work

Where Preston Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

6% → Honesdale Honesdale 6% 4% → Forest City Forest City 4% 3% → Scranton Scranton 3% 3% → Hancock Hancock 3% 3% → New York New York 3% 3% → Deposit Deposit 3% Preston Township · 7% stay
239jobs based in Preston Township
7%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

Questions about Preston Township

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Preston Township, PA a good place to live?

Public schools that outperform most of Pennsylvania.

Is Preston Township, PA expensive?

Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.