Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0Within Illinois, Peru is healthier than 42% of graded towns
Peru differs from Illinois on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Peru. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Peru
Cancer, COPD and arthritis run high in Peru
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.4%), vs 7.6% across Illinois. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 6.3% across Illinois. Arthritis is also above the state: 30.6%, vs 24.2% across Illinois. In all, Peru runs above Illinois on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fewer Peru adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Illinois. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Illinois figure falls outside Peru’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Peru’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Peru is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #444 of 767 in Illinois. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 46%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Peru’s median household income is $74,808; among the 10,852 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$94K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Peru adults…
Peru runs above IL on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.5% of Peru adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.8% across Illinois.
Care in and near Peru
2 hospitals in Peru, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Peru; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Illinois
Share of adults, with the Illinois figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Peru adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Illinois.
How Peru adults are doing
About the same as Illinois on each measure.
1 in 3 Peru adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Peru and the towns around it
Peru has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | B | 36.3% | 12.3% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| LaSalle | C+ | 38.6% | 12.3% | 15.8% | CDC place |
| Peru Township | — | — | — | — | |
| LaSalle Township | B− | 37.9% | 12.2% | 15.3% | ZIP codes |
| Dalzell | — | — | — | — | |
| Dimmick Township | — | — | — | — |
Peru Township: not graded. Dalzell and Dimmick Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Peru adults live with a disability (Illinois 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Peru
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Peru is better than Illinois on 6 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Illinois figure falls inside Peru’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Peru | IL | U.S. | vs IL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%16–21.5 | 18.6% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.1–15.8 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.2–18.2 | 15.6% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.3%28.4–44.6 | 34% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.4–14.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.1%32.7–41.3 | 33% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%33.7–43 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27–34.1 | 24.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.4%9.4–11.5 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%6.9–9.1 | 6.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.3%8.1–12.7 | 10.3% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11.4–15.7 | 12.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.1%19.6–28.7 | 23% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%14.4–21 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.6%27.9–41.8 | 35.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.7–9.5 | 9.9% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%75.9–82.9 | 77.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.1%59.2–67 | 63.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.3–89.5 | 87.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.2%76.1–81.9 | 75.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%60–70.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%63.4–80.2 | 73.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.9%18.4–25.5 | 19.8% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%27.7–38.6 | 33.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20–27.7 | 25.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.6%10.5–14.9 | 15.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.2%8.6–12 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 7.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.8–7.7 | 8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.5%9.5–13.6 | 13.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31%26.5–35.5 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.8–17.3 | 12.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11.4–14.7 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.2%7.2–9.2 | 6.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.2–5.3 | 4.8% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.2–9.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 3.5% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Illinois figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Peru
Is Peru a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Peru is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #444 of 767 in Illinois. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Peru?
CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.4% and 44.6%, against 34% across Illinois and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Peru?
Carle Health Proctor Hospital in Peoria, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Peru’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Peru have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.5%), against 9.9% across Illinois.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Peru more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Peru.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Illinois figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.