City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Peru, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Peru - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

10,835
Residents
$46,180
Median income
$84,000
Median home
$956
Median rent (state)

Peru - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Peru lands in the 14th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

14th
percentile, household income
4th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Peru, IN

10,835 people live in Peru, Indiana - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Peru brings in $46,180 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.0%. Home values in Peru run a median of $84,000, and the median resident age is 40.8 years. Educational attainment runs 16.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Peru (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Indiana at 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $956 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Indiana's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 52.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

10,835 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$46,180 /yr

Poverty 22.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Peru compare to other US cities?

Here's how Peru stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 4% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Peru's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Indiana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

14thIncome percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Peru's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$84,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 96% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Peru $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Peru, IN Peru, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Peru, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Peru, IN median $46,180/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Peru, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Peru, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
10,835
Median Income
$46,180
Median Home Value
$84,000
Median Age
40.8
Poverty Rate
22.0%
Labor force participation
52.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.5%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
10,700 residents10,800 residents10,900 residents11,000 residents11,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 10,937 residents 10,962 residents ▲ +0.2%
Peru's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 6
2020 10
2021 0
2022 178
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.4%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
0.2%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
4.8%

Based on 4,388 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Peru sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$956/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
52.8 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Lowell
10,911 people
Huntertown
10,984 people
Danville
11,049 people
Bluffton
10,539 people
Plymouth
10,506 people
Whitestown
11,276 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Peru's 10,835 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Nantucket, MA
10,837 people
Berkley, CO
10,838 people
Forestville, MD
10,839 people
McKee, NJ
10,843 people
Boaz, AL
10,847 people
Garden, SC
10,820 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Peru's $46,180 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

De Soto, MO
$46,181 median income
Niota, TN
$46,188 median income
New Port Richey, FL
$46,160 median income
Milam, TX
$46,200 median income
Eastport, ME
$46,205 median income
Pine Castle, FL
$46,154 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Peru, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Peru, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.1% 6.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.1% White 88.1% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 6.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Peru compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Peru (this city) 10,835 $46,180
Lowell 10,911 $83,125
Huntertown 10,984 $104,808
Danville 11,049 $93,080
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Peru, IN?

What is the population of Peru, IN? +

The population of Peru, IN stands at 10,835 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Peru, IN? +

In Peru, the typical household earns $46,180 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Peru? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Peru; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Peru, IN? +

A typical home in Peru is worth $84,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.