The Town FilesPreston, Idaho
City in Franklin County · population 5,591 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $350,300
- Household income
- $61,039
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 34.2
Preston is a city of 5,591 people in Franklin County, Idaho. The median home is worth $350,300, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks better for families than 83% of Idaho towns, easier by car than 77% of Idaho towns, more of a college town than 73% of Idaho towns.
How Preston ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Preston is worth $350,300, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $61,039, which is more affordable than 19% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $811 a month. 68.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Preston | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $350,300 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $811 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $61,039 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Preston
| People | Preston | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 23.6 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.3% | 91.2% |
Weather in Preston
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 17.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.4 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 17, 1989 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 17, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 22, 2018.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4310: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 4,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,391 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Preston itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Preston
5 public schools with 2,407 students, about 21.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRESTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 723 | 20.1 |
| PRESTON JR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-8 | 570 | 19.7 |
| PIONEER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 535 | 24.3 |
| OAKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 525 | 21.0 |
| FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 54 | — |
Towns near Preston
- Richmond, UT12.7 mi · 2,914 people · home $395,200
- Smithfield, UT18.4 mi · 13,571 people · home $450,200
- Hyde Park, UT20.9 mi · 5,234 people · home $573,900
- North Logan, UT22.7 mi · 10,986 people · home $492,600
- Logan, UT24.9 mi · 52,778 people · home $383,600
- Providence, UT27.6 mi · 8,218 people · home $515,900
- Garland, UT29.0 mi · 2,589 people · home $360,400
- Nibley, UT29.5 mi · 7,328 people · home $461,100
Preston questions
Is Preston, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Preston scores better for retirees than 26% of Idaho towns and quieter than 45%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home in Preston is valued at $350,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,039, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $811 a month.
What is the weather like in Preston?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.3 inches of precipitation a year and 52.4 inches of snow.
Does Preston get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 17, 1989. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)