Signals
Ottumwa
Peru
Growth
49 · Bottom 49%
vs54 · Top 43%
Climate
59 · Bottom 21%
vs62 · Bottom 33%
Physical resilience
37 · Bottom 25%
vs40 · Bottom 29%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
57 · Bottom 19%
vs61 · Bottom 22%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 46%
vs35 · Bottom 26%
Measured values
| Metric | Ottumwa | Peru | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,362 | 35,712 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,766 | $61,139 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,358 | $30,463 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 82/sq mi | 96/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $125,100 | $126,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $920 | $838 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 76.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 16.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 54 | 88 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 2.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 28.6% | 151.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 14°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.0" | 40.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 69 mi | 66 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.2 | 41.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ottumwa
Elevated or high exposure: drought, inland flooding.
Peru
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Full profiles: Ottumwa, IA Micro Area · Peru, IN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology