The Town FilesOdell, Illinois
Village in Livingston County · population 1,003 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,000
- Household income
- $83,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 44.8
Odell is a village of 1,003 people in Livingston County, Illinois. The median home is worth $121,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 79% of Illinois towns, better for cycling than 75% of Illinois towns, quieter than 74% of Illinois towns.
How Odell ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Odell is worth $121,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $83,558, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 86.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Odell | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $943 | $960 |
| Median household income | $83,558 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Odell
| People | Odell | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Odell
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odell since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 5, 2010 about 6.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 13,762 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,455 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Odell itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Odell
1 public school with 162 students, about 9.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odell Grade School | PK-8 | 162 | 9.5 |
Towns near Odell
- Dwight, IL8.5 mi · 4,032 people · home $155,600
- Pontiac, IL9.9 mi · 11,150 people · home $116,300
- Cullom, IL15.8 mi · 520 people · home $100,800
- Gardner, IL17.3 mi · 1,366 people · home $199,600
- Mazon, IL17.3 mi · 979 people · home $207,700
- South Wilmington, IL17.4 mi · 710 people · home $174,400
- Fairbury, IL17.7 mi · 3,633 people · home $162,200
- Streator, IL18.1 mi · 12,500 people · home $94,700
Odell questions
Is Odell, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Odell scores better for retirees than 59% of Illinois towns and quieter than 74%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Odell?
The median owner-occupied home in Odell is valued at $121,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,558, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Odell?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Odell get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 5, 2010. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)