The Town FilesWaverly, Missouri
City in Lafayette County · population 784 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,700
- Household income
- $47,969
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 34.0
Waverly is a city of 784 people in Lafayette County, Missouri. The median home is worth $117,700, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for retirees than 90% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Missouri towns, better for families than 77% of Missouri towns.
How Waverly 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 Waverly is worth $117,700, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $47,969, which is more affordable than 63% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waverly | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,700 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $910 | $855 |
| Median household income | $47,969 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waverly
| People | Waverly | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 32.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 88.7% |
Weather in Waverly
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.1 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 37 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waverly since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1977 about 0.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 4, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 18, 2017.
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 Waverly itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Waverly
2 public schools with 206 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANTA FE ELEM. | PK-6 | 171 | 12.2 |
| WAVERLY REGIONAL YOUTH CTR. | 6-12 | 35 | 7.0 |
Towns near Waverly
- Norborne, MO10.7 mi · 634 people · home $105,700
- Carrollton, MO10.9 mi · 3,514 people · home $110,200
- Higginsville, MO14.8 mi · 4,817 people · home $166,100
- Concordia, MO15.4 mi · 2,371 people · home $166,500
- Hardin, MO17.3 mi · 571 people · home $106,300
- Sweet Springs, MO17.6 mi · 1,316 people · home $107,900
- Marshall, MO18.1 mi · 13,806 people · home $147,900
- Lexington, MO18.9 mi · 4,652 people · home $161,300
Waverly questions
Is Waverly, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waverly scores better for retirees than 90% of Missouri towns and quieter than 65%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Waverly?
The median owner-occupied home in Waverly is valued at $117,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,969, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Waverly?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.1 inches of snow.
Does Waverly get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waverly since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1977. 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)