Preston is a city in and the county seat of Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, Preston had a population of 1,322. The Root River runs through it, and Mystery Cave State Park is nearby. It bills itself as "America's Trout Capital," with a 20-foot trout placed along Minnesota State Highway 16.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code55965

Area code507

Living in Preston

Housing in Preston

$299K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $299,000 in May 2026.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Preston

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Preston reports less crime per resident than 82% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Preston 0.8

Minnesota 2.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Preston 7.6

Minnesota 14.3

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Preston

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Preston for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Rochester (26%), Harmony (5%) and Chatfield (5%). Half commute less than 26 miles.

Rochester

26%

Harmony

Chatfield

Spring Valley

16%Work in townlive and work in Preston 26 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 804Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Preston →

Health in Preston

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 45% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 65% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Minnesota

2better than MN·10worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

73.5%More adults screened for colon cancerMN 68.7% · better 80%More adults treating high blood pressureMN 76.1% · better 14%More older adults who have lost all their teethMN 8.9% · worse

Care nearby

Regional Health Services of Howard CountyCresco · 20.2 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Service Inc. - RochesterRochester · 32.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Preston · CMS · HRSAHealth in Preston →

Natural hazards in Preston

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 81% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

26Does Preston flood?paid flood claims since 1980 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Preston MapPreston vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Preston →

Climate in Preston

Full climate →

Preston has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

27° / 10°Winter

56° / 34°Spring

80° / 58°Summer

58° / 37°Fall

How much snow does Preston get?About 42 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 28, with the last in spring around May 14.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Preston →

Schools in Preston

All Preston schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Preston’s kids attend trail 60% of Minnesota’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictFILLMORE CENTRALSchools1

Fillmore Central Elementary C+Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 311 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within MN. Ratings are from neighbors.