Preston offers rural charm in Chenango County
Thirty-six miles northeast of Oneonta, Preston is a small town tucked among the rolling hills and dense forests of Chenango County. “The town of Preston is very rural … so much state land and so many isolated properties,” says Jack Thyfault, an associate broker at Northeast Realty with over 27 years of experience. Nature is the backdrop, with escapes like Bowman Lake State Forest offering hiking and birdwatching. For shopping and dining, residents head to Norwich, 6 miles away, while Preston maintains its quieter, more serene setting, free from the hubbub of larger towns. “The draw is that it’s so rural,” Thyfault says.
Farmhouses with rural seclusion and prices below the national median
There aren’t any master-planned subdivisions or condo complexes in Preston. Instead, single-family homes are peppered along county roads, sometimes secluded with hundreds of feet separating them from their neighbors. Housing styles vary, but farmhouses, Minimal Traditional and ranch-style homes are typical, usually built during the mid-to-late 20th century. These properties offer privacy and pastoral views of the verdant countryside with ample space for outbuildings, such as barns or workshops. Properties rarely come on the market, but prices range from $130,000 to $310,000, depending on size and features. Land is also occasionally for sale, ranging from $30,000 for 3 acres to $105,000 for 51 acres.
Picnics at Preston Pryde Park, forest vistas and Bowman Lake
Close to home, Preston Pryde Park offers a playground, picnic pavilion and fields for baseball and soccer. In July, the park hosts the annual Preston Pride Picnic, which includes barbecue and lawn games. Bowman Lake State Forest borders the town, a 966-acre evergreen preserve home to dozens of bird species, including golden-crowned kinglets and chestnut-sided warblers. Dirt-packed trails wind through pine stands and over small brooks, drawing hikers in the summer and snowshoers in the winter. At the forest's center is Bowman Lake, a quiet, tree-ringed spot with a swimming beach, boat launch and bass fishing. The forest is also popular for geocaching and camping, and has rustic cabins, picnic areas and showers.
In Norwich, parks such as Kurt Beyer Park and Weiler Park feature amenities like a community pool, tennis courts and a seasonal ice rink. Other nearby attractions include the Berry Hill Fire Tower, 4 miles away, which offers panoramic forest views, and the 3,198-acre Ludlow Creek State Forest, 10 miles away, which is connected to the Finger Lakes Trail System. “We have thousands of acres of state land … [to] hike, hunt, explore,” Thyfault says.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner in downtown Norwich
Preston’s rural character means there’s no shopping or dining in the immediate area. “Norwich is our county seat, so that’s where your supermarkets, restaurants are,” Thyfault says. Downtown Norwich offers a walkable hub of locally owned spots, from hobby shops like Wally’s World O’ Comix to the early 20th-century Colonia Theatre. Deja Brew is the go-to for coffee, serving everything from chai lattes and choco-chinos to piña colada frappes and mango-pineapple smoothies. For a heartier start, Charlie’s Diner has been dishing out country scrambles and tall stacks of buttermilk pancakes for over 40 years. Across the street, Grand Union Supermarkets sells groceries and the Norwich Deli and Shop is known for its subs piled high with fresh-cut meats and cheeses. For a casual evening out or to celebrate game day, Park Place Sports Bar & Grill offers cold drinks and comfort staples like butterfly shrimp and chocolate lava cake.
Dual-enrollment opportunities at Norwich High
Preston is part of multiple school districts, including the Norwich City School District, which is rated a C-plus by Niche. Kids in kindergarten through second grade may start at the C-rated Stanford J. Gibson Primary before moving to the C-minus-rated Perry Browne Intermediate for third through fifth grade. Norwich Middle and Norwich High both receive a B-minus. At the latter, teens may take dual-enrollment courses for credit at SUNY Morrisville.
Art and music festivals in Norwich
Community events are often held in Norwich, like the Chenango Blues Festival in August. The two-day celebration invites jazz and blues lovers to camp and enjoy a full slate of performing artists at the Chenango County Fairgrounds. “We also have an artists’ festival called ‘Colorscape,’ which is also a big deal,” Thyfault says. In September, the Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival transforms the downtown into a vibrant, open-air gallery of music, art and community. “It’s all artisans, whether it be from painting to pottery,” Thyfault says. Drawing over 10,000 festivalgoers, the event features a craft fair, live music and hands-on art and cooking demonstrations, including tie-dying and mug painting.
State Route 10A and the nearest hospital and airport
Preston doesn't have sidewalks or public transportation, so residents drive to get around. State Route 10A passes through town, providing access to Norwich and Oneonta. UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital is 6 miles away, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport is a 72-mile drive.
