The Town FilesPreston, New York
Town in Chenango County · population 895 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,300
- Household income
- $85,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 49.2
Preston is a town of 895 people in Chenango County, New York. The median home is worth $122,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks quieter than 88% of New York towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 73% of New York towns.
How Preston ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Preston is worth $122,300, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $85,625, which is more affordable than 99% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,292 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Preston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,300 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,292 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $85,625 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.9% | — |
Who lives in Preston
| People | Preston | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Preston
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 11.8°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 21, 1990.
Severe weather in Chenango County since 1996
Chenango County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3565: Hurricane Henri |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chenango County
Chenango County had 17,279 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,170 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Preston itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Towns near Preston
- Oxford, NY4.4 mi · 1,330 people · home $118,400
- Norwich, NY4.9 mi · 7,051 people · home $121,100
- McDonough, NY6.0 mi · 797 people · home $113,100
- Norwich, NY6.4 mi · 3,599 people · home $127,100
- Plymouth, NY7.0 mi · 1,619 people · home $154,700
- Oxford, NY7.4 mi · 3,614 people · home $119,400
- North Norwich, NY7.9 mi · 1,664 people · home $151,700
- Pharsalia, NY9.1 mi · 516 people · home $126,400
Preston questions
Is Preston, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Preston scores better for retirees than 25% of New York towns and quieter than 88%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.2).
How much does a house cost in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home in Preston is valued at $122,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,625, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $1,292 a month.
What is the weather like in Preston?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 11.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 74.8 inches of snow.
Does Preston get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 2011. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)