The Town FilesOdessa, Missouri
City in Lafayette County · population 5,593 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,200
- Household income
- $100,022
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.0
Odessa is a city of 5,593 people in Lafayette County, Missouri. The median home is worth $238,200, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 79% of Missouri towns.
How Odessa ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Odessa is worth $238,200, above the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $100,022, which is more affordable than 70% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Odessa | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,200 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $855 |
| Median household income | $100,022 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Odessa
| People | Odessa | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Odessa
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 42.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.0 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odessa since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 6, 2017 about 7.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 24, 1961.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4012: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 8,809 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,138 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Odessa itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Odessa
4 public schools with 2,039 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ODESSA HIGH | 9-12 | 651 | 13.6 |
| ODESSA MIDDLE | 6-8 | 487 | 12.8 |
| MCQUERRY ELEMENTARY | K-2 | 454 | 11.4 |
| ODESSA UPPER ELEMENTARY | 3-5 | 447 | 13.1 |
Towns near Odessa
- Oak Grove, MO8.7 mi · 8,157 people · home $215,500
- Grain Valley, MO13.5 mi · 15,627 people · home $283,800
- Lexington, MO13.5 mi · 4,652 people · home $161,300
- Higginsville, MO13.7 mi · 4,817 people · home $166,100
- Buckner, MO15.4 mi · 2,945 people · home $197,600
- Blue Springs, MO16.2 mi · 58,603 people · home $263,100
- Richmond, MO19.1 mi · 6,013 people · home $142,600
- Warrensburg, MO20.9 mi · 19,337 people · home $222,200
Odessa questions
Is Odessa, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Odessa scores better for retirees than 75% of Missouri towns and quieter than 35%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Odessa?
The median owner-occupied home in Odessa is valued at $238,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,022, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Odessa?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.9 inches of precipitation a year and 13.0 inches of snow.
Does Odessa get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odessa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 6, 2017. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)