Cambridge Community

Homes for Sale in Preston

Preston is one of the three historic towns that make up Cambridge, sitting where the Grand and Speed rivers meet. It has a classic small-town downtown, many homes over 100 years old, the huge Riverside Park and a location right in the middle of Kitchener, Galt, Hespeler and the 401.

By George Dmitrovic, Realtor with Keller Williams Innovation Realty. Updated October 2026. Jump to the Preston guide

Preston at a Glance

Location

North-central Cambridge, beside Kitchener, Galt and Hespeler

Population

Part of Cambridge, which had 138,479 residents at the 2021 Census

Homes

Big historic homes, smaller wartime houses and a few newer developments

Parks

Riverside Park with trails, a spray pad, picnic areas and Canada Day fireworks; the Bob McMullen Linear Trail

Schools

Preston PS, Preston High School, St. Michael, St. Joseph

Commute

401 access via Shantz Hill, Hespeler Rd or near Conestoga College; about an hour to Toronto

Preston is the oldest of the three towns that became Cambridge, built where the Speed River meets the Grand. Buyers look here for older homes with character, a small main street along King Street, river trails and a central spot between Kitchener, Galt, Hespeler and Highway 401. Here is what you should know before you buy.

Where Is Preston?

Preston sits in the north-central part of Cambridge, between Galt to the south, Hespeler to the northeast and Kitchener across the river. There is no official boundary today, so the area is described here as it is commonly understood. Its main street is King Street East, home to the Preston Towne Centre business area, the second largest in Cambridge.

Preston grew around John Erb’s mills, built from about 1805 by Mennonite settlers from Pennsylvania. Mineral springs found in 1837 made it a spa town that drew visitors for their sulphur water. Blair joined Preston in 1969, and on January 1, 1973 Preston merged with Galt and Hespeler to form Cambridge. Homes range from Victorian and early 1900s houses and workers’ cottages near the core to post-war bungalows and split-levels, with newer streets and townhouses toward the 401.

Homes and prices

George’s MLS price analysis covers Kitchener and Waterloo only, so this page does not quote Cambridge prices. In Preston, a renovated century home and a dated bungalow on the next street can sell far apart. For a figure on a specific home, book a free call, or browse bungalows and townhouses across Cambridge.

Getting around

By car: Highway 401 is about 5 to 10 minutes from central Preston, via Hespeler Road or Highway 8, and downtown Kitchener about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
By transit: GRT Route 61 Preston runs along King Street, Bishop Street, Preston Parkway and Fountain Street between Cambridge Centre Station and Conestoga College. At Cambridge Centre Station you can catch the Route 302 ION Bus to Fairway Station in Kitchener and the ION trains.
Good to know: the ION light rail does not reach Cambridge yet, so most Preston households drive for work.

Everyday amenities

Preston Towne Centre (King Street East): independent shops, restaurants and services. Several buildings have new facades through the City’s Core Areas improvement program.
Cambridge Public Library, Preston branch (435 King Street East).
Hespeler Road: for groceries, big-box stores and Cambridge Centre mall (355 Hespeler Road), most Preston residents make the short drive to this corridor.

Schools in Preston

Preston is served by the Waterloo Region District School Board (public) and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.

Public elementary: Preston Public School (210 Westminster Drive North), Parkway Public School (436 Preston Parkway) and Grand View Public School (1144 Hamilton Street) serve parts of Preston, with William G. Davis Public School (530 Langs Drive) to the north.
Catholic elementary: St. Michael (1150 Concession Road) and St. Joseph (980 Westminster Drive South).
Preston High School (550 Rose Street, WRDSB): Grades 9 to 12, with Specialist High Skills Majors and co-op programs.
Catholic high schools: WCDSB’s two Cambridge high schools are Monsignor Doyle (185 Myers Road) and St. Benedict (50 Saginaw Parkway). Which one serves an address depends on the board’s boundaries.

None of Preston’s own public schools appear on the WRDSB’s current French Immersion list, so immersion families look at schools elsewhere in Cambridge, such as in Galt or Hespeler. I have not quoted Fraser Institute ratings because I could not confirm current scores for these schools. Boundaries change, so always confirm an address’s schools with the board before you make an offer. My guide to the best Catholic elementary schools in Cambridge has more detail.

Parks and Things to Do in Preston

Riverside Park (49 King Street West) is the city’s big riverside park, with trails, playgrounds, picnic areas and a spray pad that is open daily in summer. It hosts Cambridge’s Canada Day celebration and fireworks, which in 2026 was its second year at the park.

Mill Run Trail: a 5 km stone dust trail along the Speed River from Sheffield Street, under Highway 401, to Riverside Park. The section from Sheffield Street to Beaverdale Road is closed for maintenance from October 1 to 26.
Bob McMullen Linear Trail: a 3.2 km trail along the Grand and Speed rivers from Hamilton Street to the Preston Auditorium.
Blair Trail: a short riverside trail from Fountain Street into the historic village of Blair, just south of Preston.
Central Park also has a spray pad. Full trail details are on the City of Cambridge trails page.

What’s Changing Nearby

Former Preston Springs Hotel site (King and Fountain streets). In December 2025 the Ontario Land Tribunal approved a three-tower condo project on the site after the City had opposed it. In May 2026 the land was listed for sale for nearly $13 million with those approvals in place, so no construction date is set.
ION light rail to Cambridge. Regional Council approved extending ION 17 km from Fairway Station to Downtown Cambridge, with seven new stations, in November 2025. It still needs full provincial and federal funding. See the Region’s Stage 2 ION page.
Hespeler Road. In 2026 the City has been considering a plan for more homes and fewer big-box stores along Hespeler Road, Preston’s main shopping corridor.

Is Preston a Good Place to Live?

Preston suits buyers who want an older home with some character, river trails and a large park close by, and a quick run to the 401 or Kitchener. Its central spot works well for households with jobs in more than one part of the region.

The trade-offs are worth knowing. King Street is a small main street, so big grocery and box stores mean a drive to Hespeler Road. Many homes are decades old and can need updates, so budget for a careful inspection. There is no ION train yet, and the Preston Springs towers and Stage 2 ION could bring change, though neither has a start date.

If you commute east, my guide to the best Cambridge areas for commuting to Toronto compares your options, and the Cambridge homes page covers the whole city. Ask me and we’ll talk through whether Preston fits.

Fully updated by George Dmitrovic in October 2026.

Nearby Areas to Explore

What Clients Are Saying

Five-star Google reviews from Kitchener-Waterloo buyers and sellers George has helped.

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Preston FAQs

Answers to the questions buyers ask most about living in Preston.

Is Preston part of Cambridge?

Yes. Preston was a separate town until January 1, 1973, when it merged with Galt and Hespeler, plus parts of two townships, to form the City of Cambridge. The village of Blair had already joined Preston in 1969. Addresses now read Cambridge, but the Preston name lives on in Preston Towne Centre, Preston High School and the library branch.

Is Preston a good place to live?

For many buyers, yes. It has older homes with character, Riverside Park and river trails, a small King Street main street and quick access to the 401 and Kitchener. The trade-offs: most big shopping is a drive away on Hespeler Road, older homes can need updates, and there is no ION train yet.

What are homes like in Preston?

Near the old core you find Victorian and early 1900s houses and small workers’ cottages, many on mature, tree-lined streets. Around them are post-war bungalows and split-levels, with newer homes and townhouses toward the 401. Ask about wiring, foundations and windows in older homes, and get a full inspection.

What is Riverside Park?

Riverside Park, at 49 King Street West, is a large City park beside the river in Preston. It has trails, playgrounds, picnic areas and a summer spray pad, and the Mill Run Trail links it to the Speed River trail network. It is also home to Cambridge’s Canada Day celebration and fireworks.

Which schools are in Preston?

Public options include Preston Public School, Parkway and Grand View, with Preston High School on Rose Street for Grades 9 to 12. Catholic families look at St. Michael and St. Joseph, then Monsignor Doyle or St. Benedict for high school. Confirm every address with the school board, because boundaries change.

How is the commute from Preston?

Preston is one of the most central parts of Cambridge. The 401 is roughly 5 to 10 minutes away and downtown Kitchener about 15 to 20, depending on traffic. Route 61 links Preston with Cambridge Centre Station, where the 302 ION Bus runs to Fairway Station and the ION trains. These times are estimates only.

Is Preston a good place to invest?

It can be, depending on the property. A central location near the 401 and transit to Conestoga College helps rental demand, and the approved Preston Springs towers could change the area over time. Older houses can carry higher repair costs, so check the numbers on rent, taxes and upkeep. This is general information, not financial advice.