1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lafayette County household earns $80,612, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Missouri license first.
On this page
- Lafayette County, MO: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Lafayette County
- Lafayette County housing compared with Missouri
- The Lafayette County job picture
- The counties around Lafayette County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lafayette County
- Budget math at the Lafayette County median
- People and households in Lafayette County
- Reading the Lafayette County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Lafayette County
- Steps before you apply in Lafayette County
- More guides for Lafayette County
- Frequently asked questions
Lafayette County, MO: the basics
Lafayette County is home to about 33,115 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 628 square miles of land, or about 53 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 15 Census places inside Lafayette County, Odessa leads by population with about 5,620; 15 of the 15 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Lafayette County
The median household income in Lafayette County is $80,612; statewide it is $70,702, so Lafayette County runs 14% above Missouri as a whole. That places it 10th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Lafayette County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.3% | -4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.0% | +6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Lafayette County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.3%, 3 points lower than the state's 12.6%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lafayette County median.
Lafayette County housing compared with Missouri
A typical Lafayette County rental runs $928 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $216,500, a typical Lafayette County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 76% of homes.
| Measure | Lafayette County | Missouri | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $928/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,500 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 11% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
The Lafayette County job picture
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Lafayette County residents work in education and health care and 12% in manufacturing. Compared with Missouri, the county leans toward public administration (6% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 3.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lafayette County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Lafayette County
Six nearby counties, 20 to 36 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Lafayette County; Ray County is highest at $74,573 and Saline County lowest at $57,931.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette County | - | $80,612 | $928/mo | 76% |
| Ray County, MO | 20 mi | $74,573 | $782/mo | 77% |
| Johnson County, MO | 23 mi | $67,272 | $932/mo | 64% |
| Jackson County, MO | 29 mi | $68,577 | $1,197/mo | 59% |
| Carroll County, MO | 30 mi | $62,154 | $822/mo | 72% |
| Saline County, MO | 32 mi | $57,931 | $739/mo | 70% |
| Pettis County, MO | 36 mi | $60,430 | $885/mo | 69% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lafayette County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 15 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Lafayette County residents live in one of the 15. Incomes vary by place: $100,022 at the median in Odessa, $47,969 in Waverly. None of the 15 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | city | 5,620 | $100,022 | $1,063 | 10 mi |
| Higginsville | city | 4,781 | $81,033 | $980 | 4 mi |
| Lexington | city | 4,606 | $56,905 | $801 | 8 mi |
| Concordia | city | 2,332 | $59,068 | $825 | 14 mi |
| Waverly | city | 901 | $47,969 | $910 | 18 mi |
| Alma | city | 450 | $68,750 | $823 | 14 mi |
| Corder | city | 442 | $91,250 | $800 | 9 mi |
| Wellington | city | 432 | $67,045 | $1,004 | 11 mi |
| Mayview | city | 301 | $116,250 | $950 | 2 mi |
| Emma | city | 270 | $81,667 | $850 | 18 mi |
| Lake Lafayette | city | 237 | $46,563 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Napoleon | city | 201 | $69,219 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Bates City | city | 162 | $88,750 | $1,292 | 15 mi |
| Dover | town | 136 | $85,417 | n/a | 11 mi |
Budget math at the Lafayette County median
Here is the Lafayette County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $80,612 a year is $6,718 of gross monthly income
- 14% goes to median rent ($928)
- $1,759: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $928, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Lafayette County
26% of Lafayette County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lafayette County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lafayette County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Reading the Lafayette County data as a borrower
Based on the Lafayette County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lafayette County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Lender oversight for Lafayette County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lafayette County borrowers answers to the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Lafayette County
Steps that save money for Lafayette County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Lafayette County
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lafayette County?
$80,612 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $70,702 for Missouri. It ranks 10th of 115 in the state.
How much is rent in Lafayette County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $928 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Lafayette County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Lafayette County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Odessa, Higginsville, Lexington, Concordia, Waverly.
Will a Lafayette County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.