AreaScoop
Preston, ID

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Preston, ID

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 20
Population5,800
Foreign Born0.4%
Population Density849people per mi²
Median Age34.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

81/100

19% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Preston, Idaho

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $13k$24k
Comfortable $54k$80k
Luxury $100k+$156k+
Elite (Top 5%) $121k+$187k+
Affordability Ratio

69%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean85%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
14
Positive
8
Poor
2
Negative
1

Groceries

0 within 10 miles

Gas

10 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

2 within 20 miles

0.4mi

Airport

SLC — Salt Lake City International

90.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Preston, ID

0.3mi

Critical Amenities

Golf0Nearest 18.5 mi
Camping5Nearest 31.1 mi
Marina0Nearest 18.6 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range1Nearest 2.3 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$56k+7.1%
26% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$642k
2% below US avg
College Educated
15.7%
55% below US avg
WFH
5.9%
59% below US avg
Homeownership
68.2%
4% above US avg
Median Home
$281k
Equal to US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A+
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 97% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
4.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−29.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−9.2%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.32 / 1k Residents81% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−49.0%
Burglary
0.48 / 1k Residents46% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
3.17 / 1k Residents31% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+13Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Preston, Idaho
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.7% of income
Property Rights
C+
FairIJ Grade C+
Firearm Rights
A-
GreatFPC Grade A-
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (25% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season156 days207 frost-free
Annual Rainfall19.8"
Elevation4,715 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
A
Resilient

Strong survivability profile. Good buffer from population centers, with manageable environmental and tactical risks.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great655 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak849/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A+
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
A+
GreatInland Flooding, Earthquake, Wildfire, Cold Wave, Lightning
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 476 mi · coast 621 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$5.4M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-23T02:12:29.000Z

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