Sign In Register

Preston, MD

Full City Profile · Maryland · Caroline County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
794 Population 1,444/sq mi density
$69,375 Median Income $38,373 per capita
$248,100 Home Value $327,987 Zillow
$1,406 Median Rent 51.0% income on rent
55°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
97 Violent Crime/100K 2,714 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$69,375 median income, 0.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.7 / 5.0
$248,100 home value, $1,406/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
97 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Preston experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.3 inches. The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average35°F (1°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation45 ft (14 m)
Area0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
Population Density1,444/sq mi
Coordinates38.7102°N, 75.9075°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCaroline County County
Nearest AirportCambridge-Dorchester Regional (CGE)
14 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.3"
22% above US avg
Snowfall 12.8"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score45.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability58.7 / 100
Community Resilience56.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Very Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

12 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 9, 2023.

Jul 16, 2010 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland M3.6 144 km
Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 96 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 110 km
Mar 15, 1993 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland M2.7 103 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 89 km
Jan 25, 2015 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania M2.6 145 km
Jan 13, 1990 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland M2.6 116 km
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 96 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 138 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 106 km
Sep 29, 1997 Virginia M2.5 134 km
Mar 10, 1993 3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland M2.5 102 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

10 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 1 244 km
2012 Sandy Category 1 240 km
2011 Irene Category 1 104 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 274 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 213 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 265 km
1993 Emily Category 3 264 km
1991 Bob Category 3 222 km
1986 Charley Category 1 158 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 127 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

316 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 8 fatalities, 191 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 24 km 1
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 47 km 0
Sep 24, 2001 EF3 96 km 2
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 82 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 62 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 56 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 32 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 81 km 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 32 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 48 km 0
Apr 28, 2002 EF2 95 km 0
Oct 5, 1995 EF2 91 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 20 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 81 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 66 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 68 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 93 km 0
Sep 27, 1993 EF2 92 km 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 48 km 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 30 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 136 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 37 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 39 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 38 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 36 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 38 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 37 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 40 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 38 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 38 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 38 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 39 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 35 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 34 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 34 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 38 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 41 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 57 km
2020 SPLIT DITCH 1,518 98 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 36 km
2014 RAILROAD 1,431 98 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 35°F (1°C) 3.8 in Coldest
February 36°F (2°C) 3.0 in Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 4.2 in
April 54°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 64°F (18°C) 4.0 in
June 72°F (22°C) 3.5 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest, Wettest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.2 in
September 69°F (21°C) 3.7 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.2 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.3 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.4 in

Preston has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.0").

View full weather details →