The Town FilesPeru, Maine
Town in Oxford County · population 1,488 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,300
- Household income
- $66,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 88 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 48.0
Peru is a town of 1,488 people in Oxford County, Maine. The median home is worth $141,300, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks easier by car than 93% of Maine towns, quieter than 90% of Maine towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Maine towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $141,300, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $66,827, which is more affordable than 95% of Maine towns. Median rent is $723 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,300 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $723 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $66,827 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.6% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 90.0% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 48.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 87.9 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 31, 1971 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 11, 1980.
Severe weather in Oxford County since 1996
Oxford County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| September 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4737: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oxford County
Oxford County had 17,009 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,809 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Peru
1 public school with 355 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dirigo Elementary School | PK-5 | 355 | 12.7 |
Towns near Peru
- Dixfield, ME5.3 mi · 1,323 people · home $171,500
- Sumner, ME5.5 mi · 994 people · home $150,000
- Dixfield, ME5.8 mi · 2,253 people · home $160,900
- Woodstock, ME6.7 mi · 1,352 people · home $219,600
- Mexico, ME6.7 mi · 2,756 people · home $110,800
- Hartford, ME7.5 mi · 1,203 people · home $189,200
- Mexico, ME7.8 mi · 2,234 people · home $108,700
- Rumford, ME7.9 mi · 4,298 people · home $123,200
Peru questions
Is Peru, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 21% of Maine towns and quieter than 90%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $141,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,827, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $723 a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 87.9 inches of snow.
Does Peru get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 31, 1971. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- 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)