What are the schools like in Perry, IA?

Perry is served primarily by Perry Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Perry?

The median household income in Perry, IA is $57,276 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.5%.

What is the weather like in Perry, IA?

Perry has an average high temperature of 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 32.8 inches.

Perry, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Perry, IA affordable or expensive?

Perry's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Perry is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,800 and the median rent is $901 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Perry, IA?

Perry has a violent crime rate of 398.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 585.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Perry, IA a Good Place to Live?

Perry is a small town of 7,875 in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,276 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Perry stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Perry is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Perry city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.7

Perry's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Perry costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Perry, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$901	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,276	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Perry's violent crime rate is 398.9 per 100,000 residents — 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

398.9 /100k

Property Crime

585.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Perry is served primarily by Perry Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Perry, IA	National Avg
School District	Perry Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Perry sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July, with 36.1 inches of annual precipitation and 32.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Perry, IA
Average High — January	29.5°F
Average High — July	85.4°F
Annual Precipitation	36.1"
Annual Snowfall	32.8"

Demographics

Metric	Perry, IA	National Avg
Population	7,875	—
Median Age	40.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	16.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bouton, IA 4 mi Dawson, IA 7 mi Minburn, IA 7 mi Berkley, IA 7 mi Rippey, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Perry

Perry, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50220

Perry vs Other Cities

Perry, IA vs Bouton, IA Perry, IA vs Dawson, IA Perry, IA vs Minburn, IA Perry, IA vs Berkley, IA Perry, IA vs Rippey, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Perry, IA affordable or expensive?

Perry's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Perry roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,800 and median rent is $901/month.

What is the crime rate in Perry, IA?

Perry's violent crime rate is 398.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 585.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Perry?

Public schools in Perry are operated by Perry Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 12.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Perry, IA a good place to live?

Perry, IA has a population of 7,875, a median household income of $57,276, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Perry?

Perry averages 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.1 inches with about 32.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Perry?

Perry, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50220.

What is the population of Perry?

The population of Perry, Iowa is 7,875 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Perry?

Key numbers for living in Perry: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $110,800, median household income $57,276, crime index 74 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Perry side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.