Perry, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Dallas County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
7,928 Population 1,369/sq mi density
$63,983 Median Income $29,752 per capita
$122,100 Home Value $172,729 Zillow
$877 Median Rent 24.9% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
449 Violent Crime/100K 611 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$63,983 median income, 7.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$122,100 home value, $877/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
449 violent crimes/100K (18% above avg)
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
14.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Perry, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$63,983
15% below
$29,752 per capita
Home Value
$122,100
57% below
Zillow: $172,729
Median Rent
$877/mo
25% below
24.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
449/100K
18% above
611/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%
56% below
86.0% high school+
Unemployment
7.7%
114% above
8.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.1%
25% above
17.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Perry Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Perry's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
85%
Home Value
43%
Rent
75%
Poverty
69%
Bachelor's
44%
Unemployment
214%
Crime
118%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Perry a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Perry residents earn a median household income of $63,983 , which is 15% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $29,752. The unemployment rate stands at 7.7% (114% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,600 business establishments, including 211 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Perry is $122,100 , 57% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $172,729. Median rent is $877/month, with 24.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1954.

Safety & Crime

Perry reports 449 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 18% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 611/100K.

Education

14.7% of adults in Perry hold a bachelor's degree or higher (56% below the national average). 86.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.8/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Perry has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.1 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population7,928
Median Age40.2 yrs
Density1,369/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born18.1%
Veterans6.7%

Economy

B
Median Income$63,983
Per Capita$29,752
Unemployment7.7%
Poverty8.5%
County GDP$11,107M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,468

Housing

A+
Home Value$122,100
Rent$877
Ownership62.2%
Zillow$172,729
Housing Units3,512
Rent Burden24.9%

Crime

F
Violent449/100K
Property611/100K

Health

Obesity40.1%
Diabetes12.8%
Smoking17.2%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death4,244/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain36.1 in/yr
Elevation993 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+14.7%
High School+86.0%
Graduate+3.2%
School Score6.8/10

Community

2024 VoteR 52% / D 47%
Commute21 min
Broadband85.7%
Internet Speed123 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries12

Did You Know?

Perry was founded in 1869.
The median home in Perry was built in 1954.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (31 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.435 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.8% of the population has a disability.
18.1% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 123 Mbps.
There are 211 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.