Peru, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Peru, Nebraska had a total population of 653, the 171st largest city in Nebraska, with a median household income of $44,028, which is 42% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 26.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 42% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (26.6%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- 40.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Nebraska.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 8.8% is notably above the national average.
Peru Quick Facts
How Peru Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 691 | 653 | -5.5% |
| Median household income | $41,875 | $44,028 | +5.1% |
| Median home value | $85,900 | $96,600 | +12.5% |
How Peru Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Peru Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Nemaha County
Cities Similar to Peru
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macy | 637 | $42,500 | $54,400 | 5.6% | 33.3% |
| Verdigre | 613 | $40,938 | $87,000 | 16.0% | 18.6% |
| Culbertson | 634 | $51,875 | $91,300 | 19.8% | 11.6% |
| Bassett | 580 | $42,697 | $86,800 | 21.5% | 16.6% |
| Hay Springs | 649 | $57,031 | $87,900 | 12.9% | 9.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 653, Peru's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Peru is a small community located in Nebraska, within Nemaha County. The total population is 653. It ranks as the 171st most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Peru is 21.3 years. This is 43% lower than the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Peru is $44,028. This is 42% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.6%. This is 150% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.8%. This is 191% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $96,600. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Peru is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Peru has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.4% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 12.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
40.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Peru in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Peru, Nebraska is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Peru, Nebraska?
Peru, Nebraska has a population of 653 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Peru, NE?
The median household income in Peru is $44,028, which is 45% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Peru, NE?
The poverty rate in Peru is 26.6%. This means approximately 107 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Peru, Nebraska?
Peru's population is 86.4% White, 4.1% Black, 2.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Peru, NE?
The median home value in Peru is $96,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Peru, Nebraska?
40.2% of adults (25+) in Peru hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.