The Town FilesPeru, Indiana
City in Miami County · population 11,073 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,500
- Household income
- $46,159
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 41.2
Peru is a city of 11,073 people in Miami County, Indiana. The median home is worth $92,500, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Indiana towns, more vibrant than 90% of Indiana towns, hipper than 90% of Indiana towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $92,500, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $46,159, which is more affordable than 78% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $826 | $888 |
| Median household income | $46,159 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1942 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.6% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 6, 2010 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 22, 2008.
Severe weather in Miami County since 1996
Miami County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2026 | Flood | EM-3651: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| March 12, 2007 | Snowstorm | EM-3274: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Miami County
Miami County had 9,077 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,711 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Peru
4 public schools with 2,175 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peru Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 852 | 16.4 |
| Blair Pointe Upper Elementary | 3-6 | 557 | 18.0 |
| Elmwood Primary Learning Center | PK-2 | 431 | 15.4 |
| Pipe Creek Elementary School | PK-1 | 335 | 19.7 |
Towns near Peru
- Grissom AFB, IN8.0 mi · 3,009 people · home $79,000
- Wabash, IN13.0 mi · 10,440 people · home $116,500
- Logansport, IN14.9 mi · 18,366 people · home $92,200
- Kokomo, IN20.5 mi · 59,604 people · home $137,400
- Rochester, IN21.9 mi · 6,270 people · home $137,400
- North Manchester, IN22.9 mi · 5,277 people · home $138,200
- Marion, IN25.9 mi · 28,310 people · home $85,300
Peru questions
Is Peru, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 10% of Indiana towns and quieter than 12%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $92,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,159, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 20.9 inches of snow.
Does Peru get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 6, 2010. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)