The Town FilesPreston, Texas
Community in Grayson County · population 2,101 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,000
- Household income
- $65,069
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 55.2
Preston is a community of 2,101 people in Grayson County, Texas. The median home is worth $184,000, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Texas towns, easier by car than 87% of Texas towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Texas towns.
How Preston ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Preston is worth $184,000, close to the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $65,069, which is more affordable than 56% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,289 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Preston | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,289 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $65,069 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 27.4% | — |
Who lives in Preston
| People | Preston | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 17.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Preston
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.9°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 43 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1957 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 21, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 21, 1996.
Severe weather in Grayson County since 1996
Grayson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grayson County
Grayson County had 52,026 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,282 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Preston itself the ACS puts it at 11.6%.
Towns near Preston
- Pottsboro, TX6.6 mi · 2,488 people · home $280,000
- Denison, TX8.3 mi · 24,479 people · home $180,900
- Sherwood Shores, TX8.8 mi · 1,165 people · home $175,500
- Colbert, OK9.0 mi · 1,027 people · home $104,300
- Kingston, OK9.6 mi · 1,431 people · home $124,500
- Knollwood, TX12.4 mi · 764 people · home —
- Calera, OK14.2 mi · 2,916 people · home $157,600
- Sherman, TX16.5 mi · 43,645 people · home $243,500
Preston questions
Is Preston, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Preston scores better for retirees than 68% of Texas towns and quieter than 76%. 33.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.2).
How much does a house cost in Preston?
The median owner-occupied home in Preston is valued at $184,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,069, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,289 a month.
What is the weather like in Preston?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 33.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Preston get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Preston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1957. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)