CensusEasy
CITY

Peru

Indiana · 10,962 residents (2025 est.) · 5.056 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Peru micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Peru has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $46,159. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 2,093 residents. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $92,500. The poverty rate of 23.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 36% less than the Indiana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,901
−16%since 2000
from 12,994 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,156 / sq mi
−16%since 2000
from 2,570 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.2
+13%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,962 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K12K13K13K1990201020202024Peru
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,159
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,668 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,614
+41%since 2000
from $17,497 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.1%
+16.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
23.6%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.404
−5%since 2010
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information15.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$92,500
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$826
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $418 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
71.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
28.7% rent
Vacancy rate
15.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.2%
−12.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.9%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+18%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
43
RELATED:See current rent listings in Peru on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(11,972)
Black2.9%(379)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(172)
Asian0.4%(53)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.6%(1,505)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.6%(9,443)
Black2.9%(320)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(507)
Asian0.1%(12)
Other5.7%(619)
Diversity Score30.4%(3,316)
Diversity Score
30
+163%since 2000
from 12 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.4%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.7%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 77.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+57%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 14.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.3%
−31.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−40.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 20.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−77.1 ptssince 2013
from 82.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.5%
+22.6 ptssince 2017
from 66.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 98.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Peru

New Port Richey East
Pop 11,939
Beverly Hills
Pop 9,650
Pine Castle
Pop 10,371
Micco
Pop 8,896
Places similar to Peru
Head to head

Compare Peru to nearby cities

PERU VS
Wabash
Income$53,410+16%
Home value$116,500+26%
Population10,190−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERU VS
Logansport
Income$47,291+2%
Home value$92,200same
Population18,287+67%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERU VS
Kokomo
Income$55,360+20%
Home value$137,400+49%
Population59,999+447%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PERU VS
Marion
Income$43,343−6%
Home value$85,300−8%
Population28,234+158%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Peru, Indiana?

Peru, Indiana has about 10,901 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Peru, Indiana?

The typical household in Peru, Indiana earns about $46,159 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Peru, Indiana expensive?

In Peru, Indiana, the median home is worth about $92,500, and the typical rent is about $826 a month.

How educated are people in Peru, Indiana?

About 16.4% of adults age 25 and over in Peru, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Peru, Indiana?

About 23.6% of people in Peru, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Peru, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Peru, Indiana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,942 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Indiana
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Peru with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →