CensusEasy
CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Peru

Indiana · 12,843 residents · 5.06 sq mi
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The short version

With 12,843 people, Peru is a city in Indiana. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 20% national rate. Median home value sits at $33,000. That trails the Indiana median by roughly 31%. The median household earns $19,989, about 34% below the national median. Median rent is $282 a month.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.9
US median: 33.0
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 17%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

12,843
−1%vs 2000
vs 12,994 in 2000
1990 – 2025
33.9
−7%vs 2000
vs 36.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
5.06 sq mi
Population, 19902024
11K11K12K13K13K19902000201020202024Peru
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.6%(978)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.6%(842)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(1,046)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 196.8%(873)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.8%(873)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.8%(2,034)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.2%(1,693)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.4%(1,209)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.6%(1,228)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748.5%(1,094)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 845.1%(659)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.4%(314)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$19,989
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $30,668 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
$9,916
−43%vs 2000
vs $17,497 in 2000
US average: $14,340
16.6%
+4.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

$33,000
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $52,300 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
$282
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $418 in 2000
US average: $450
69.0%
−0.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.4% in 2000
31.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.1%(11,972)
Black2.9%(379)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(172)
Asian0.4%(53)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(12,018)
Black3.2%(406)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(119)
Asian0.3%(34)
Other3%(385)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.9%(313)
Cuban0.8%(86)
Puerto Rican0.3%(29)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.1%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German17.7%(1,934)
Irish12.7%(1,382)
English11.6%(1,264)
American8.2%(891)
Scottish2.7%(290)
Polish1.4%(154)
Scotch-Irish1.2%(136)
Italian1.2%(129)
French0.8%(87)
Swedish0.6%(66)
Norwegian0.4%(49)
Dutch0.3%(33)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.2%(24)
Lithuanian0.2%(18)
Danish0.1%(15)
Welsh0.1%(14)
Macedonian0.1%(13)
British0.1%(12)
Arab0.1%(11)
West Indian0.1%(11)
Jamaican0.1%(11)
Austrian0.1%(7)
Czech0.1%(6)
Slovene0%(4)
Section 05

Education

7.2%
−1.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
69.4%
−8.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 77.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
3.0%
−0.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 3.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.7 min
+11%vs 2000
vs 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married42%(1,769)
Married43%(1,811)
Widowed2%(86)
Divorced13%(550)
Women 15+
Never married26.7%(1,262)
Married40.4%(1,908)
Widowed10.1%(477)
Divorced22.9%(1,081)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

5.4%
−12.1 ptssince 2013
from 17.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
46.9%
−2.2 ptssince 2020
from 49.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
15.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 15.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
20.8%
−1.0 ptssince 2020
from 21.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
31.9%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 28.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2020
from 4.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
58.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2020
from 61.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
50.0%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 46.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)36.7%(224)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.6%(126)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era21.1%(129)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 611 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Peru, Indiana?

Peru, Indiana has about 12,843 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Peru, Indiana?

The typical household in Peru, Indiana earns about $19,989 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 $33,000, and the typical rent is about $282 a month.

How educated are people in Peru, Indiana?

About 7.2% 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 16.6% of people in Peru, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →