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CITY

Preston

Minnesota · 1,318 residents (2025 est.) · 2.465 sq mi
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The short version

Preston has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,984. Population has declined 4% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $185,900. Households here earn about 28% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,362
−4%since 2000
from 1,426 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
553 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 578 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.8
−5%since 2000
from 41.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,318 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K1K2K1990201020202024Preston
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,984
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,016 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,375
+101%since 2000
from $18,578 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.9%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 25.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.418
−1%since 2010
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Information6.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance2.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$185,900
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$769
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $332 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 78.7% in 2000
26.4% rent
Vacancy rate
7.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.4%
−11.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
18.2%
−15.9 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.9
+47%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Preston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(1,408)
Black0.1%(2)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(6)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.8%(25)
2024
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(1,300)
Black0.6%(8)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(31)
Asian0.3%(4)
Other1.4%(19)
Diversity Score11%(150)
Diversity Score
11
+529%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.0%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.9%
+14.9 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+43%since 2000
from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.6%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 71.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.4%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.2%
+3.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.7%
−25.1 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Female
47.8%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−41.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.1%
−82.2 ptssince 2013
from 89.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.7%
+18.6 ptssince 2017
from 69.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 98.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Preston to nearby cities

PRESTON VS
Rochester
Income$89,389+40%
Home value$310,500+67%
Population124,292+9330%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRESTON VS
Winona
Income$56,337−12%
Home value$201,800+9%
Population26,530+1913%
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PRESTON VS
La Crosse
Income$55,866−13%
Home value$210,100+13%
Population50,784+3753%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRESTON VS
Austin
Income$68,057+6%
Home value$163,900−12%
Population26,689+1925%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Preston, Minnesota?

Preston, Minnesota has about 1,362 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Preston, Minnesota?

The typical household in Preston, Minnesota earns about $63,984 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Preston, Minnesota expensive?

In Preston, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $185,900, and the typical rent is about $769 a month.

How educated are people in Preston, Minnesota?

About 27.0% of adults age 25 and over in Preston, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Preston, Minnesota?

About 8.9% of people in Preston, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Preston, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Preston, Minnesota has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 168 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →