Signals
Peru
Ottumwa
Growth
54 · Top 43%
vs49 · Bottom 49%
Climate
62 · Bottom 33%
vs59 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
40 · Bottom 29%
vs37 · Bottom 25%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
61 · Bottom 22%
vs57 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
35 · Bottom 26%
vs48 · Bottom 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Peru | Ottumwa | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 35,712 | 35,362 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,139 | $64,766 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,463 | $33,358 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 96/sq mi | 82/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $126,200 | $125,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $838 | $920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 76.2% | 68.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 19.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 15.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 88 | 54 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.5 | 1.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 151.4% | 28.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 86°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 14°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.3" | 37.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 66 mi | 69 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 20.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.5 | 39.2 | 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
Peru
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Ottumwa
Elevated or high exposure: drought, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Peru, IN Micro Area · Ottumwa, IA Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology