City · Iowa
Perry, Iowa
Perry, city, in Dallas County, Iowa. Perry had 8,208 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,836 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,985 (±21). GEOID 1962355.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,208
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,836 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,985 ±21
Median household income
$68,910
±$8,587 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$121,400
±$16,708 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$931
±$46 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Perry and what county is it in?
Perry is a city in Dallas County, Iowa. It covers 5.8 square miles of land, 1,352 residents per square mile in 2020.
Perry is in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Perry, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 8,208 people lived in Perry on July 1, 2025, up 4.7% since 2020, faster than Iowa (+1.5%). The 2020 Census counted 7,836 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,985 (±21).
| Measure | Perry | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,985 ±21 | 107,968 | +386 |
| Households | 3,163 ±253 | 42,471 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.47 ±0.20 | 2.53 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,486 ±233 | 44,804 | no clear change |
Perry's population since 2000
From 7,633 in 2000 to 8,208 in 2025: up 7.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Perry as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Perry?
The median resident of Perry is 39.0 years old; 23.9% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 61.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 34.7%. 20.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Perry | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 ±3.7 | 36.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.9% ±2.7 pts | 26.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±2.3 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±3.7 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 34.7% ±5.5 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 61.6% ±5.5 pts | 80.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 20.4% ±4.7 pts | 10.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 33.6% ±5.6 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0% ±1.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| With a disability | 12.3% ±2.5 pts | 7.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.5% ±2.6 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.1% ±3.6 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 17.0% ±4.3 pts | 51.5% | +7.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.8% ±2.5 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.0% ±4.7 pts | 86.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Perry earn?
Half of Perry's 3,163 households earn less than $68,910 a year (±$8,587), against $102,379 in Dallas County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 the median was $54,330 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,580 after inflation. 8.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Perry | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,910 ±$8,587 | $102,379 | +$14,580 |
| Mean household income | $81,935 ±$13,136 | $137,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,832 ±$5,403 | $54,385 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.9% ±3.5 pts | 6.3% | −7.7 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.5% ±7.0 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.2% ±3.7 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.1% ±2.7 pts | 97.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.4% ±5.2 pts | 92.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Perry?
Owners occupy 64.2% of Perry's occupied homes and renters 35.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,400 by its owner (±$16,708). The median renter pays $931 a month including utilities, and 24.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Perry | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $121,400 ±$16,708 | $355,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $931 ±$46 | $1,311 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.7% ±9.0 pts | 29.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,101 ±$89 | $2,160 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.2% ±6.9 pts | 69.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.8% ±6.9 pts | 31.0% | – |
| Housing units | 3,486 ±233 | 44,804 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.6% ±5.0 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.7% ±5.0 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% ±2.2 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.9% ±3.4 pts | 32.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 33.5% ±5.4 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.1% ±3.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Perry building?
Builders took permits for 3 new housing units in Perry in 2025 (3 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Perry work and get to work?
71.6% of Perry's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Perry | Dallas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 74.1% ±3.7 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% ±2.3 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6% ±8.7 pts | 70.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.4% ±4.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.2% ±1.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.9% ±4.0 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.8 min ±2.6 | 21.2 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Perry?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Perry, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $64,476 (Tract 503) to $70,000 (Tract 504).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Perry) · Census block assignment files
How does Perry compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Perry is the 3,689th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 50th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Perry ranks 149th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 50th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 48th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 80th | 279 |
| Median household income | 149th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 203rd | 279 |
| Median home value | 227th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 83rd | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 142nd | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 241st | 279 |
| Median age | 157th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 240th | 279 |
| Work from home | 134th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 45th | 279 |
Perry's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Perry with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Perry?
13 of the 57 figures for Perry on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Perry are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Perry.