The Town FilesPeru, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,400
- Household income
- $90,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 77 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 52.6
Peru is a town of 814 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $267,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 100% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 90% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $267,400, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $90,750, which is more affordable than 99% of Massachusetts towns. 98.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,400 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | — | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $90,750 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 98.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.8% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.0% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 54.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.1 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 13, 1975 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Peru
- Hinsdale, MA4.4 mi · 1,919 people · home $267,600
- Worthington, MA4.7 mi · 1,193 people · home $380,400
- Cummington, MA7.2 mi · 829 people · home $300,600
- Windsor, MA7.8 mi · 831 people · home $389,700
- Dalton, MA7.8 mi · 6,330 people · home $295,700
- Becket, MA8.8 mi · 1,931 people · home $361,000
- Chester, MA9.2 mi · 552 people · home $257,400
- Plainfield, MA9.3 mi · 633 people · home $309,000
Peru questions
Is Peru, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 46% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 100%. 29.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.6).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $267,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,750, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 79.6°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.1 inches of precipitation a year and 77.1 inches of snow.
Does Peru get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 13, 1975. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- 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)