The Town FilesPeru, New York
Town in Clinton County · population 6,772 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,200
- Household income
- $101,771
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.7
Peru is a town of 6,772 people in Clinton County, New York. The median home is worth $203,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for families than 75% of New York towns, more upscale than 70% of New York towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among New York towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $203,200, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $101,771, which is more affordable than 84% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,067 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,200 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,067 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $101,771 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 30.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.2 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Peru since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 14, 1957.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4723: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| July 12, 2017 | Snowstorm | DR-4322: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| July 12, 2013 | Flood | DR-4129: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 32,264 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,550 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Peru
3 public schools with 1,787 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PERU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 829 | 10.5 |
| PERU HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 545 | 10.3 |
| PERU MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 413 | 10.1 |
Towns near Peru
- Schuyler Falls, NY5.5 mi · 4,843 people · home $201,600
- Au Sable, NY5.6 mi · 3,183 people · home $133,000
- Keeseville, NY6.7 mi · 2,931 people · home $120,900
- Plattsburgh, NY8.0 mi · 11,886 people · home $179,900
- Plattsburgh, NY9.3 mi · 19,841 people · home $195,900
- Dannemora, NY12.2 mi · 3,287 people · home $134,400
- Saranac, NY13.1 mi · 3,852 people · home $173,200
- Beekmantown, NY14.6 mi · 5,508 people · home $176,700
Peru questions
Is Peru, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 30% of New York towns and quieter than 49%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $203,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,771, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,067 a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.9 inches of precipitation a year and 65.2 inches of snow.
Does Peru get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Peru in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)