Preston, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 16, 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 Nebraska, within Richardson County. The total population is 16. It ranks as the 561st most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Preston is 66.5 years. This is 79% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Preston is $50,417. This is 34% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Preston. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Preston, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $103,100. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Preston is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Preston is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.3%) is well below the state average of 12.7%.

Education

18.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.3%. Notably, 18.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Preston, Nebraska 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 Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.