Preston is one of the three original communities that make up the City of Cambridge, Ontario. Along with Galt and Hespeler, it was merged into Cambridge back in 1973. But if you ask anyone who lives here, they still call it Preston. That identity never went away.

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cambridge, Preston is a community worth looking at closely. Especially if you have a family. It sits right in the middle of the city, which means you can get pretty much anywhere in Cambridge quickly. It's got parks, schools, trails, and a downtown strip that's starting to come into its own again.

Here's what you should know before making the move.

Where Preston Is and Why the Location Matters

Preston sits on the western side of Cambridge, right where the Speed River meets the Grand River. That's not just a nice detail on a map. It means trails, parks, and green space are built right into the community.

It's also close to everything families need. Cambridge Memorial Hospital is nearby. Conestoga College has a campus in Cambridge. Highway 401 is easy to get to, which matters if you're commuting to Kitchener, Guelph, or even the GTA. And the Cambridge Centre Mall is right on the edge of the community for everyday shopping.

Grand River Transit runs several routes through Preston and connects to the rest of the Waterloo Region, including the ION light rail in Kitchener. That's a big deal if anyone in your household commutes or if you have older kids who need to get around on their own.

What the Neighbourhoods in Preston Look Like

Preston isn't one single neighbourhood. It's made up of several smaller areas, and they each have a different feel.

Downtown Preston, also called the Preston Towne Centre, runs along King Street. It's split into North Preston and South Preston. This is the historic core. You'll find older homes with character, local shops, cafes, and Central Park, which is a gathering spot for farmers markets, seasonal events, and community activities. South Preston is where the Speed and Grand Rivers meet, and some of the homes in that area have views of the water.

Preston Heights is a family neighbourhood bordered by the Speed River to the east, the Grand River to the south and west, and Highway 401 to the north. Homes here tend to be a mix of detached houses and townhomes. It's one of the more affordable areas in Cambridge, with an average listing price that sits below the city average. The Preston Heights Community Group runs programs and services for families, kids, teens, and adults in the area.

There are also pockets of newer development closer to the edges of Preston, especially toward Kitchener. Some of these areas have homes built within the last 20 years. If you want something more modern but still want to be in the Preston community, that's where to look.

On the more premium side, Blair is a small community just outside Preston proper. It's a quieter, more rural area with custom built homes on larger lots. If you're looking for more land and privacy but still want to be close to the city, Blair is worth considering.

Schools in Preston

Schools are a big reason families choose one area over another. Preston has options across the two major school boards in the region.

On the public side, Preston is served by the Waterloo Region District School Board. There are four public elementary schools in Preston: Grand View Public School on Hamilton Street, Coronation Public School on Concession Road, Parkway Public School on Preston Parkway, and Preston Public School on Westminster Drive. Preston Public School has been part of the community since 1923. Grand View got a brand new building in 2012 and has a strong reputation with steady improvement on provincial test scores over the years.

For high school, Preston High School sits right on the bank of the Grand River at 550 Rose Street. It first opened in 1934 and has programs in everything from arts to tech to athletics.

On the Catholic side, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board operates two elementary schools in Preston: St. Joseph on Westminster Drive South and St. Michael.

Every family has different priorities when it comes to schools. I'd suggest driving through the neighbourhoods, visiting the schools during open houses, and talking to other parents in the area. That gives you a much better picture than test scores alone.

Parks and Trails

This is one of Preston's biggest strengths for families.

Riverside Park is the standout. It's Cambridge's largest park at 252 acres, and it sits right in Preston along the Speed River. It's got trails, ball diamonds, soccer fields, a playground, a splash pad, a skate park, picnic areas you can reserve, and a boardwalk through the wetlands. In the summer, the city hosts events there, including Canada Day celebrations. It's the kind of park where you can spend a full day and not run out of things to do.

Then there's the Bob McMullen Linear Trail, a 3.2 kilometre stone dust trail that runs from Hamilton Street to the Preston Auditorium along the Grand and Speed Rivers. It's great for walking, running, or biking with kids. You can spot deer, herons, and even the occasional bald eagle along the way. The trail passes the spot where the Grand and Speed Rivers meet, which is called Settlers Fork. It's one of the nicest views in the city.

Central Park in the Towne Centre is smaller but has a spray pad in the summer and an ice rink in the winter. It's right in the middle of the shops on King Street, so you can grab a coffee and let the kids play.

If your family is into being outside, Preston has more options within walking distance than most neighbourhoods in the Waterloo Region.

Downtown Preston and Local Businesses

The Preston Towne Centre is still growing, but it's got a lot to like. It runs along King Street and has a mix of local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and shops. It's not a big commercial strip. It's more of a small town main street feel, which is part of the appeal.

There are seasonal events too. Farmers markets in Central Park, holiday light festivals in the winter, and community events throughout the year. The Discover Preston BIA is active in organizing events and supporting local businesses.

It's the kind of downtown where you can walk around, bump into people you know, and actually enjoy a Saturday morning. For families moving from busier urban areas, that's a real change of pace.

What Homes Cost in Preston

Home prices in Preston vary depending on the specific neighbourhood and the type of home you're looking at.

Preston Heights tends to be one of the more affordable parts of Cambridge. The average listing price there has been running below the overall Cambridge average, with townhomes starting in the $400,000 range and detached homes varying widely based on size and condition.

In the older parts of Preston, closer to King Street, you'll find a mix of older character homes and some newer builds. These tend to be a bit higher in price, especially if they have river views or sit on larger lots.

Across Cambridge as a whole, the average home price in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge region was around $725,000 as of early 2026. That's been trending down slightly year over year, which means there's a bit more room for buyers right now compared to the last few years. It's still a meaningful investment, but the market has shifted toward being more buyer friendly than it was in 2021 or 2022.

If you're looking at upsizing from a smaller home, Preston can be a good fit. You can often find more square footage and a bigger yard here than you would for the same price in Kitchener or Waterloo.

Getting Around

Preston's location makes commuting fairly easy. Highway 401 is accessible from Fountain Street, which connects Preston to the highway in just a few minutes. From there, Kitchener is about 15 minutes. Guelph is around 20 to 25 minutes. The GTA is roughly an hour, depending on traffic.

Within Cambridge, Preston is centrally located. Galt is to the south, Hespeler is to the northeast, and Kitchener is just to the north. You're not on the edge of anything. You're in the middle of it.

Grand River Transit serves Preston with several bus routes, and the system connects to the ION light rail in Kitchener. If you work in the tech sector in Kitchener-Waterloo, transit is a real option.

For families, the central location also means shorter drives to schools, activities, and amenities. When you have kids in hockey, dance, and soccer all at different locations, that adds up.

The History

Preston has a long history that goes back well before Cambridge existed. The area was first settled in the early 1800s by German-speaking Mennonites from Pennsylvania. John Erb arrived in 1805 and purchased 7,500 acres at the meeting of the Grand and Speed Rivers. He built a sawmill in 1806 and a gristmill in 1807, and the settlement that grew around them became known as Cambridge Mills.

The town was officially named Preston in 1834, after the English hometown of surveyor William Scollick. It was incorporated as a town in 1915 and remained independent until the 1973 amalgamation that created the City of Cambridge.

You can still see that history in the architecture along King Street and in the heritage sites around the community. The Riverside Park Gates, for example, were built in 1921 to honour soldiers from Preston who served in World War I. They're still standing at the entrance to the park.

That sense of identity is something you feel when you live here. Preston isn't just a subdivision. It's a community with roots.

Who Preston Is Best For

Preston works well for families who want a mix of affordability, green space, and convenience. It's not the newest part of Cambridge, and it doesn't have the brand new subdivisions you'll find in some areas of Hespeler. But it has something those newer areas don't: established trees, mature parks, river trails, and a downtown with local businesses that have been here for years.

If you're a family looking to upsize from a smaller home and you want to be close to schools, parks, the hospital, and the highway without living in a cookie cutter subdivision, Preston is worth a serious look.

It's also a good fit if you're moving from the GTA and want more space without giving up access to amenities. You'll find that your money goes further here, and the pace of life is noticeably different.

Final Thoughts

Preston is one of those communities that people tend to overlook when they first start looking at Cambridge. Galt gets a lot of attention for its downtown, and Hespeler gets attention for its new builds. But Preston sits quietly in the middle, offering some of the best parks, trails, and value in the city.

I'd recommend driving through the different parts of Preston, walking the trails at Riverside Park or the Linear Trail, and grabbing a coffee on King Street. You'll get a feel for the community pretty quickly.

If you have questions about buying a home in Preston or anywhere in Cambridge, feel free to reach out. I'm happy to walk you through what's available and help you figure out if it's the right fit for your family.