2009 · Preston Iowa 20090125 Cafe · Wikimedia Commons
Preston’s story
156 years in pictures
11 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1870Preston is settled
- 2004IAMap-doton-Preston
- 2009Preston Iowa 20090125 Cafe
PrestonIA
A town of 1,044, settled in 1870. Public schools that outperform most of Iowa.
Photo: Ashton B Crew · CC BY 3.0
Population
1,044
−6.2% since 2010
Typical home
$235K
+6% in a year
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
46.1
years
Jobs based here
441
Balanced
What makes Preston stand out
The 3 things Preston does most differently from other towns.
C−School Grade
Schools
Better than 23%
of IA districts
School Grade C−.
100 U.S. towns● Preston
Health
65% of U.S. towns are healthier
on CDC estimates
Better than IA on 0 measures, worse on 6.
2009 · Preston Iowa 20090125 CafeHistory
Settled in 1870
11 archive photos, postcards and papers
Archive photos and papers going back 156 years.
Small town
1,044 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Preston’s report card
Now in Preston
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Preston? Is a C− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Preston’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Preston. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Preston’s public schools outperform 23% of Iowa districts
The public schools Preston’s kids attend trail 77% of Iowa’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
C−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easton Valley Junior High / High School | 7–12 | 198 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state testsAll 1 schools →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Preston has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 32 inches of snow falls in a normal 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
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
Healthier than 35% of U.S. towns
Preston beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6.
CHealth Grade
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
17th
percentile among IA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Work & commute
About one in ten working residents works right in Preston
Most working residents leave Preston for work: only 10% work in town. The top destinations are Clinton (19%), Maquoketa (8%) and Dubuque (6%). Half commute less than 18 miles.
10%work in town
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
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Safety
Crime reported in Preston
9 crimes were reported in Preston in 2025: 9 property and 0 violent. 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.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
9
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Housing
A typical Preston home is worth about $235K
The typical Preston home is worth about $235,000, up 6% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.
$235KZillow home value
Typical home value
Preston$235K
Iowa$240K
+6%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Outdoors
0% of Preston is conserved land
1.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 547 acres
1.1 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Westside Park | 0.3 mi | 7 |
| 2. Two Good Park | 0.3 mi | 3 |
| 3. Jackson County Recreation Trail | 0.1 mi | 11 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Famous people from Preston
3 notable people were born in Preston.
About Preston
City in Iowa, United States
Preston is a city in Jackson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 949 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1870
- Population
- 949
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 646 ft
- ZIP code
- 52069
More about Preston
Still missing for Preston:local news coverageupcoming events