The Town FilesPeru, Nebraska
City in Nemaha County · population 648 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,600
- Household income
- $44,028
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 21.3
Peru is a city of 648 people in Nemaha County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $96,600, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 99% of Nebraska towns, hipper than 97% of Nebraska towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $96,600, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $44,028, which is more affordable than 54% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $478 a month. 70.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,600 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $478 | $818 |
| Median household income | $44,028 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.1% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.3 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 87.8% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.4 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 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 Nebraska town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 28, 1963 about 5.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 105 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 13, 1981.
Severe weather in Nemaha County since 1996
Nemaha County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4928: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4896: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4641: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Nemaha County
Nemaha County had 2,968 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,430 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Towns near Peru
- Auburn, NE8.5 mi · 3,470 people · home $98,800
- Hamburg, IA9.6 mi · 890 people · home $106,300
- Rock Port, MO11.4 mi · 1,278 people · home $115,600
- Nebraska City, NE15.2 mi · 7,222 people · home $162,000
- Tarkio, MO18.5 mi · 1,506 people · home $87,800
- Sidney, IA19.0 mi · 1,070 people · home $125,300
- Fairfax, MO20.3 mi · 648 people · home $90,500
- Humboldt, NE24.3 mi · 800 people · home $67,500
Peru questions
Is Peru, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 78% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 21%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 21.3).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $96,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,028, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $478 a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 30.4 inches of snow.
Does Peru get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 28, 1963. The typical Nebraska 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)