Peru is a city in LaSalle and Bureau counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,896 at the 2020 census, down from 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area. Peru and its twin city, LaSalle, make up the core of Illinois Valley.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Peru ranks

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#118Shortest commute in IL #45Rent easiest to afford in IL #217Lowest property tax in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code61354

Area code815

Living in Peru

Housing in Peru

$184K▲ 5.9% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Peru home is worth about $184,000, up 5.9% in a year, 38% below the Illinois typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market52

Sale-to-list96.8%

Sold in May5

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Peru

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Peru reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 60% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Peru 1.7

Illinois 2.6

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Peru 18

Illinois 15.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Peru

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About one in 4 of Peru’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are LaSalle (11%), Ottawa (5%) and Spring Valley (4%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

LaSalle

11%

Ottawa

Spring Valley

Chicago

23%Work in townlive and work in Peru 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 7,744Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Peru →

Health in Peru

Health Grade B

Healthier than 58% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Illinois

6better than IL·5worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▼ 7 close Habits all close Care 2▲ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.2%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityIL 13.2% · better 12.6%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIL 15.9% · better 10.4%More adults who have had cancerIL 7.6% · worse

Care nearby

Osf Saint Elizabeth Mdl CtrPeru · 2.1 mi · ER

Community Health Partnership of IllinoisMendota · 13.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Peru · CMS · HRSAHealth in Peru →

Natural hazards in Peru

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 13% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

45Does Peru flood?paid flood claims since 1979 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Peru MapPeru vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Peru →

Climate in Peru

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Peru has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 29 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

34° / 19°Winter

61° / 39°Spring

83° / 61°Summer

63° / 42°Fall