2024 · Meridean, Wisconsin · Wikimedia Commons
Peru’s story
Peru in pictures
4 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
PeruWI
A town of 321.
Population
321
residents
Median home value
$200K
Census ACS
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
42.5
years
Jobs based here
33
A commuter town
Small town
321 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Spring BrookDunnRock CreekLimaPeru
Peru’s report card
Now in Peru
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Peru? Is a B− for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Peru’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Peru. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Peru
Most working residents leave Peru for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Eau Claire (23%), Menomonie (21%) and Union (8%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Peru0%
Eau Claire23%
Menomonie21%
Union8%
Chippewa Falls7%
17 mi
median commute distance
33
jobs based in Peru
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Peru has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
41″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–28°
Spring33–56°
Summer58–80°
Fall37–58°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Peru is
Peru tracks Wisconsin closely on all 32 CDC measures.
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Chippewa Valley Hospital
10.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 40% of U.S. communities.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Schools
Peru’s public schools outperform 51% of Wisconsin districts
The public schools Peru’s kids attend outperform 51% of Wisconsin’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
B−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Peru Amish School Private | 1–8 | 27 |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state testsAll 1 schools →
Outdoors
1% of Peru is conserved land
5.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves.
1%conserved
1%
conserved · 126 of 13,126 acres
5.8 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Xcel Tyrone Energy Park | 1.6 mi | 2,982 |
| 2. Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area | 0.2 mi | 987 |
| 3. Nine Mile Island State Natural Area | — | 65 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Peru for work
Where Peru’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
33jobs based in Peru
0%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023