Peru: Demographics & People
About 9,775 people live in Peru, in 4,480 households. Population shrank 0.9% from 9,863 (2022) to 9,775 (2024). Median age 45.7 years. (3.5y older than LaSalle County; 8.0y older than Illinois). Children under 18 are 20% of the population. Population is 86% White (non-Hispanic) and 11% Hispanic or Latino. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.22). 62% of households are family-led. County is losing 223 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 19% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Illinois avg 2.5).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Illinois 38%).
- 77 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Illinois 64).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.9% from 9,863 (2022) to 9,775 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~9,688 (extrapolated at -0.4%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 9,573.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 33,244 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 9,863 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 9,775 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 9,775 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Population Estimate | 9,573 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 45.7y is 6.8 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 20% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 45.7 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 19.6% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 9,775 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,916 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,745.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,774.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,340 |
| Population under 18 | 1,916 |
| Median age | 45.7 years (vs Illinois 37.7y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 9,775 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.22 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 8,720 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 97 |
| Asian residents | 149 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 978 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 22.1% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 87.7% |
| Asian population | 0.8% (vs Illinois 6.1%) |
| Black population | 0.6% (vs Illinois 9.3%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 10.9% (vs Illinois 17.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 85.8% (vs Illinois 54.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 8,281 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 998 |
| Share born in this state | 84.7% |
| Share born in another state | 15.3% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 10.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 5.0% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 343 |
| From Europe | 89 |
| From Africa | 91 |
Households & Family Composition
4,480 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,778 families, 28% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,105 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,778 |
| Married couples with children | 790 |
| Single-parent households | 108 |
| Average household size | 2.21 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 15.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 66 |
| Family households | 2,795 households (vs Illinois 9,709) |
| Households that are families | 62.4% (at Illinois median) |
| Total households | 4,480 households (vs Illinois 14,867) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 8.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 223 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 8.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 30,694 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 30,917 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -223 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 679 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 7.0% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 221 residents live in group quarters (2.3% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 221 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 16 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 17011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 17 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 011 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Bureau |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 14.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.30 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 17.90 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 17011 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Bureau County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,424 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 17011 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Bureau County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 64.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 58.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 57.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 32,628 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.30 |
| Family Score · Schools | 7 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 1 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 19.6% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 9,775, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 9,775 people (vs Illinois 39,460) |
| Town Summary · County | Bureau County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade