The Town FilesPeru, Illinois
City in LaSalle County · population 9,896 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $74,808
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 45.7
Peru is a city of 9,896 people in LaSalle County, Illinois. The median home is worth $154,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 79% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 77% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $154,300, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $74,808, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $921 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $921 | $960 |
| Median household income | $74,808 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 20, 2004 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 8. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 15, 1992.
Severe weather in LaSalle County since 1996
LaSalle County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in LaSalle County
LaSalle County had 39,242 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,537 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Peru
8 public schools with 945 students, about 11.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northview Elem School | PK-4 | 587 | 14.0 |
| Parkside Middle School | 5-8 | 358 | 12.3 |
| LMP ROE ALOP | 6-12 | — | — |
| LMP ROE TAOEP | 6-12 | — | — |
| LMP ROE | 6-12 | — | — |
| Circuit Breaker School | Other | — | — |
| La Salle-Peru Area Career Ctr | 11-12 | — | — |
| ROE 35 Academy | 4-12 | — | — |
Towns near Peru
- LaSalle, IL2.7 mi · 9,582 people · home $113,500
- Spring Valley, IL3.3 mi · 5,582 people · home $153,300
- Oglesby, IL5.7 mi · 3,712 people · home $139,700
- Mendota, IL13.9 mi · 7,061 people · home $134,100
- Ottawa, IL16.4 mi · 18,840 people · home $154,000
- Princeton, IL16.9 mi · 7,832 people · home $134,700
- Streator, IL22.8 mi · 12,500 people · home $94,700
- Marseilles, IL24.2 mi · 4,845 people · home $142,500
Peru questions
Is Peru, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 46% of Illinois towns and quieter than 47%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.7).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,808, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $921 a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 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 20, 2004. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)