At a glance
| Typical home value | $687,200 (−0.1% in a year, Zillow, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Status | Unincorporated; the Odessa CDP is in Pasco County, and Odessa addresses also cover part of northwest Hillsborough |
| Population | 8,080 in the Odessa CDP (2020 census) |
| Zillow typical home value (Aug 2026) | $687,195, down 0.1% over the year |
| Main road | State Road 54 runs through the area |
| Neighbor | Keystone, Hillsborough County, lies to the south |
| Named | In the 1880s by Peter Demens, who also named St. Petersburg |
Odessa at a glance
Odessa is northwest of Tampa, along State Road 54. The Odessa census-designated place itself is small, at about 5.6 square miles and 8,080 residents in 2020, and lies entirely in Pasco County, but homes across a wider area use an Odessa mailing address, including parts of northwest Hillsborough County. The area was long known for open space, ranching and horse properties, and has seen many suburban developments as the Tampa area has grown.
The W.M. Mobley family settled the area in the mid-1800s. Peter Demens, the railroad developer who also named St. Petersburg, named Odessa in the 1880s. A local sawmill operated until it burned in 1922, and the area was home to Tampa Bay Executive Airport until 2004.
Is Odessa a good place to live?
It suits buyers who want land, lakes or a newer suburban home northwest of Tampa and are prepared to pay for it. At $687,195, Zillow's typical home value is about 1.8 times Tampa's. You get more space and a rural feel in places; in return you drive for almost everything, and the county line means taxes, schools and services vary by address.
If you are weighing Odessa against closer-in suburbs, compare total monthly cost and commute, not just the price.
Homes and prices in Odessa
Zillow's typical home value for Odessa was $687,195 in August 2026, down 0.1% over the year. That is about 1.8 times Tampa's typical value of $377,566 and higher than nearby Lutz at $488,064. A typical value mixes very different property types, so a subdivision home and a lakefront or acreage property can sit far apart.
Lakefront homes
Lake homes are one of the area's draws, especially in Keystone. Ask about lake levels, shoreline and dock permits, and any lake association rules.
Acreage and horse properties
Larger parcels often use a private well and septic system and may have agricultural or special zoning. Get well, septic and survey records, and ask the county what you can build.
Newer subdivisions
Suburban developments along SR 54 and elsewhere usually come with an HOA and sometimes a CDD. Taylor Morrison's Victoria Lakes is one current new-home community; see Tampa new construction.
The Tampa housing market page covers the regional trend.
Areas and communities around Odessa
Odessa (Pasco County)
The Odessa CDP along SR 54, with 3,302 housing units in 2020. Homes here are in Pasco County for taxes, schools and permits.
Keystone (Hillsborough County)
Just south, Keystone is an unincorporated area of 25,211 residents (2020) in the northwest corner of Hillsborough County, 22 miles northwest of downtown Tampa. It has evolved from citrus and farming into a rural retreat of many lake homes and ranches, and water covers about 4.0 of its 39.2 square miles. Its ZIP codes, 33556 and 33558, are shared with Odessa and Lutz addresses.
Nearby suburbs to compare
Keystone borders Cheval and Northdale to the east, Citrus Park to the southeast and Westchase to the south. These have more subdivisions and shopping, and are closer to Tampa. See the guides to Citrus Park and Lutz.
Hillsborough or Pasco: why it matters
Because the Odessa area straddles the Pasco and Hillsborough line, two homes a mile apart can have different:
- Property tax rates: Hillsborough and Pasco set their own millage. See Hillsborough County property tax for the Hillsborough side.
- School districts: Hillsborough County Public Schools or Pasco County Schools, depending on the address.
- Permitting and zoning: rules for pools, docks, outbuildings and land use differ by county.
- Evacuation and flood tools: each county runs its own lookup.
Living in Odessa
Schools: check by address
Depending on the side of the county line, a home is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools or Pasco County Schools. Check the exact address in the right district's locator; see the Tampa schools guide.
Getting around
Expect to drive for errands, school runs and work. SR 54 is the main east-west road through the area.
Well, septic and utilities
Rural and lakefront homes often use private wells and septic systems, while subdivisions may be on county water. Ask the seller for recent utility bills and inspection and pumping records.
Costs and taxes in Odessa
Property tax rate
For 2025, the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser's final total millage was 18.2515 for unincorporated Hillsborough County, compared with 19.8428 inside the City of Tampa. Pasco County sets its own rates, so check the Pasco County Property Appraiser for homes in the Odessa CDP and elsewhere on the Pasco side. Estimate taxes from your purchase price rather than the seller's bill, since the assessed value resets after a sale. See Hillsborough County property tax.
HOA and CDD fees
Newer subdivisions often have an HOA, a community development district or both. CDD charges appear on the property tax bill as non-ad valorem assessments, so look up the parcel on the county tax collector site.
Flood and insurance
Lake and low-lying homes can sit in flood zones. Look up the address with the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or the county's flood tools, and get insurance quotes during your inspection period. The Tampa flood zone guide explains the maps.
Getting to Tampa from Odessa
Odessa is northwest of Tampa, and State Road 54 is the main east-west road through the area. Nearby Keystone is about 22 miles northwest of downtown Tampa. Drive times vary a lot with the route and time of day, so test your own commute at rush hour before you commit.
Pros and cons of living in Odessa
Pro: land and lakes
Acreage, horse properties and lake homes are easier to find here than closer to Tampa.
Pro: a mix of rural and new suburban homes
You can choose between older rural property and newer subdivisions with amenities.
Con: high prices
Zillow's typical value of $687,195 is the highest of the nearby towns we cover, above Lutz at $488,064.
Con: longer drives
Keystone alone is 22 miles from downtown Tampa, and most trips need a car.
Con: two counties to check
Taxes, schools and permits depend on whether the home is in Pasco or Hillsborough.
What to check before buying in Odessa
- County and jurisdiction: confirm on the property appraiser record whether the home is in Hillsborough or Pasco County.
- Well, septic and survey: get records for rural and lakefront property.
- HOA, CDD and flood zone: covered in the costs section above.
- Evacuation zone: Hillsborough County revised its evacuation zones for 2026, expanding Zone A farther inland along the coast and Alafia River. Check the current zone for Hillsborough addresses, and Pasco's tools for Pasco addresses.
For nearby suburbs, compare Westchase and Citrus Park.
Common questions
What county is Odessa, FL in?+
Both, depending on the address. The Odessa census-designated place lies in Pasco County, but the wider Odessa mailing area, including ZIP 33556, reaches into northwest Hillsborough County around Keystone. The county a home sits in determines its property tax rate, school district, zoning and permitting, so confirm it on the property appraiser record for the specific address.
How much are homes in Odessa, FL?+
Zillow's typical home value for Odessa was $687,195 in August 2026, down 0.1% over the year, compared with $377,566 for Tampa. The area includes lakefront homes, acreage and newer subdivisions, which trade in very different ranges, so compare recent sales of the same type of property.
Is Odessa, FL a city?+
No. Odessa is unincorporated, so there is no city government. Pasco County or Hillsborough County provides zoning, permitting and most services depending on the address. The Odessa census-designated place had 8,080 residents in 2020, though a wider area uses the Odessa mailing name.
How did Odessa, FL get its name?+
Odessa was named in the 1880s by Peter Demens, a Russian-born railroad developer who also named St. Petersburg. The area had been settled in the mid-1800s by the W.M. Mobley family from Savannah, Georgia, and a sawmill operated locally until it burned down in 1922.
Is Odessa, FL a good place to live?+
It can be if you want land, lakes or a newer suburban home northwest of Tampa and can afford the prices. Zillow's typical home value was $687,195 in August 2026, about 1.8 times Tampa's $377,566. Most trips need a car, and taxes, schools and services depend on whether a home is in Pasco or Hillsborough County, so check each address.
What is the difference between Odessa and Keystone?+
Odessa is a census-designated place in Pasco County along State Road 54, with 8,080 residents in 2020. Keystone, just south, is an unincorporated area of 25,211 residents in northwest Hillsborough County, known for lake homes and ranches. They share ZIP codes, so an Odessa mailing address can be in either county. Check the property appraiser record.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Odessa, Florida
- Wikipedia: Keystone, Florida
- Hillsborough County: Flood maps
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay: Hillsborough County adjusts hurricane evacuation zones (April 2026)
- Zillow Research: Zillow Home Value Index (August 2026 data)
- Hillsborough County Property Appraiser: Final 2025 millage rates
- Taylor Morrison: Victoria Lakes
Florida home prices, once a month.
What changed in Florida home values and mortgage rates, from our housing tracker, plus new guides. Free, one email a month, unsubscribe any time.
Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
More about Antonio and how the service works →