The Town FilesPerry, Iowa
City in Dallas County · population 7,836 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,400
- Household income
- $68,910
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 39.0
Perry is a city of 7,836 people in Dallas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $121,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 92% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Perry ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Perry is worth $121,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $68,910, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Perry | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $931 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,910 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Perry
| People | Perry | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Perry
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perry since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 55,258 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Perry itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Perry
3 public schools with 1,827 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Elementary | PK-5 | 869 | 13.2 |
| Perry High School | 9-12 | 589 | 15.5 |
| Perry Middle School | 6-8 | 369 | 13.2 |
Towns near Perry
- Madrid, IA14.3 mi · 2,802 people · home $185,600
- Adel, IA16.3 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- Boone, IA18.5 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
- Grimes, IA18.6 mi · 15,392 people · home $304,700
- Jefferson, IA19.3 mi · 4,182 people · home $155,800
- Polk City, IA19.5 mi · 5,543 people · home $414,800
- Waukee, IA20.3 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Urbandale, IA21.3 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
Perry questions
Is Perry, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Perry scores better for retirees than 7% of Iowa towns and quieter than 10%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Perry?
The median owner-occupied home in Perry is valued at $121,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,910, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Perry?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.0 inches of snow.
Does Perry get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Perry since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)