Peru is a somewhat small city located in the state of Indiana. With a population of 10,828 people and six associated neighborhoods, Peru is the 76th largest community in Indiana. Much of the housing stock in Peru was built prior to World War II, making it one of the older and more historic cities in the country.

The percentage of adults in Peru with college degrees is slightly lower than the national average of 21.84% for all communities. 14.74% of adults in Peru have a bachelor's degree or advanced degree.

The per capita income in Peru in 2018 was $23,913, which is low income relative to Indiana and the nation. This equates to an annual income of $95,652 for a family of four. However, Peru contains both very wealthy and poor people as well.

Peru is a somewhat ethnically-diverse city. The people who call Peru home describe themselves as belonging to a variety of racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of Peru residents report their race to be White, followed by Black or African-American. Important ancestries of people in Peru include German, English, Irish, Scots-Irish, and Scottish.

The most common language spoken in Peru is English. Other important languages spoken here include Spanish and Polish.