At a Glance
Median Income
$63,983
$29,752 per capita
Home Value
$122,100
Zillow: $166,384
Median Rent
$877/mo
24.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
270/100K
1,226/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%
86.0% high school+
Unemployment
5.5%
8.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.1%
17.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F
275 sunny days/yr
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)
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 5.5% (53% 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 $166,384. 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 270 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 29% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,226/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
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. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population7,928
Median Age40.2 yrs
Density1,369/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.7%
Economy
B+
Median Income$63,983
Per Capita$29,752
Unemployment5.5%
Poverty8.5%
County GDP$11,107M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,468
Housing
A+
Home Value$122,100
Rent$877
Ownership62.2%
Zillow$166,384
Housing Units3,512
Rent Burden24.9%
Crime
F
Violent270/100K
Property1,226/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault216/100K
Burglary229/100K
Health
Obesity40.1%
Diabetes12.8%
Smoking17.2%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death4,244/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain36.1 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
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.
12.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% 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.
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