Perry is located at 41°50′24″N 94°6′0″W / 41.84°N 94.1°W / 41.84; -94.1 (41.840107, -94.099978).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²), of which, 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it is land and 0.27% is water.

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,633 people, 2,831 households, and 1,942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,060.4 people per square mile (796.5/km²). There were 2,994 housing units at an average density of 808.2/sq mi (312.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.84% White, 1.06% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 13.19% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.54% of the population.

There were 2,831 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,429, and the median income for a family was $41,771. Males had a median income of $27,610 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,935. About 8.9% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Adel | Bouton | Clive‡ | Dallas Center | Dawson | De Soto | Dexter | Granger‡ | Grimes‡ | Linden | Minburn | Perry | Redfield | Urbandale‡ | Van Meter | Waukee | West Des Moines‡ | Woodward

Adams | Adel | Beaver | Boone | Colfax | Dallas | Des Moines | Grant | Lincoln | Linn | Spring Valley | Sugar Grove | Union | Van Meter | Walnut | Washington

Booneville

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties