Preston, Maryland Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 852, Preston's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Preston is a small community located in Maryland, within Caroline County. The total population is 852. It ranks as the 349th most populous out of 527 Census-designated places in Maryland.

Age Demographics

The median age in Preston is 38.6 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 39.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Preston is $100,000. This is 4% lower than the state median of $103,678. It is also 24% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.8%. This is 60% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.8%. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $267,000. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $419,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Preston is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 67.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Preston has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (85.5% vs 46.6%). The Black or African American population (3.2%) is well below the state average of 28.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 12.5%.

Education

25.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 43.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Preston, Maryland is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Maryland state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 527 Census-designated places in Maryland. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.