The Town FilesPreston, Maryland
Town in Caroline County · population 673 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,000
- Household income
- $100,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 38.6
Preston is a town of 673 people in Caroline County, Maryland. The median home is worth $267,000, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 94% of Maryland towns, quieter than 93% of Maryland towns.
How Preston ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Preston is worth $267,000, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $100,000, which is more affordable than 94% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,629 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Preston | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,000 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,629 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Preston
| People | Preston | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 94.3% |
Weather in Preston
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.3°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.6 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 28, 2026 about 8.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Caroline County since 1996
Caroline County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Caroline County
Caroline County had 9,246 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,786 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Preston itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Preston
1 public school with 396 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Elementary School | PK-5 | 396 | 14.1 |
Towns near Preston
- Hurlock, MD6.2 mi · 2,070 people · home $202,700
- Federalsburg, MD7.4 mi · 2,833 people · home $156,500
- Trappe, MD8.4 mi · 1,177 people · home $242,600
- Easton, MD9.9 mi · 17,101 people · home $358,900
- Cordova, MD12.0 mi · 551 people · home $320,400
- Denton, MD12.5 mi · 4,848 people · home $234,600
- Algonquin, MD13.0 mi · 1,220 people · home $342,600
- Oxford, MD14.1 mi · 611 people · home $791,700
Preston questions
Is Preston, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Preston scores better for retirees than 58% of Maryland towns and quieter than 93%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home in Preston is valued at $267,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,000, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,629 a month.
What is the weather like in Preston?
July highs average 88.1°F and January lows 29.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 13.6 inches of snow.
Does Preston get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 28, 2026. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)