The Town FilesPreston, Minnesota
City in Fillmore County · population 1,322 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,900
- Household income
- $63,984
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.8
Preston is a city of 1,322 people in Fillmore County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $185,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for cycling than 81% of Minnesota towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Preston ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Preston is worth $185,900, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $63,984, which is more affordable than 74% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $769 a month. 73.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Preston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,900 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $769 | $991 |
| Median household income | $63,984 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 73.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Preston
| People | Preston | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.0% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Preston
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 4.1°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 22, 2013.
Severe weather in Fillmore County since 1996
Fillmore County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2024 | Flood | DR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| November 2, 2016 | Flood | DR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fillmore County
Fillmore County had 6,235 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,287 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Preston itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Preston
1 public school with 295 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FILLMORE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 295 | 10.5 |
Towns near Preston
- Lanesboro, MN6.3 mi · 724 people · home $213,200
- Harmony, MN9.0 mi · 1,043 people · home $170,100
- Chatfield, MN9.5 mi · 523 people · home $387,800
- Canton, MN12.4 mi · 653 people · home $229,200
- Chatfield, MN12.9 mi · 2,997 people · home $241,600
- Spring Valley, MN15.4 mi · 2,447 people · home $160,800
- Saratoga, MN15.4 mi · 618 people · home $420,800
- Spring Valley, MN15.5 mi · 545 people · home $356,600
Preston questions
Is Preston, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Preston scores better for retirees than 61% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 46%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home in Preston is valued at $185,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,984, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $769 a month.
What is the weather like in Preston?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 4.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 42.2 inches of snow.
Does Preston get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)