How much house does $500,000 buy you in Decatur, Illinois?

Back in 2014, spending $500,000 on a house was generally reserved for high earners. The typical U.S. home sold for $159,000, while starter homes averaged just $101,000. Fast-forward to today, and prices have more than doubled: A standard home now sells for $440,000, with starter homes approaching $300,000. 

These current prices have put homeownership out of reach for many – and things don't look to be improving. Prices are still rising, affordability keeps dropping, and starter homes are becoming harder to find as home values climb. This has created a very sluggish and difficult housing market. In fact, even the usual busy spring and summer buying seasons were unusually slow this year.

While $500,000 once stretched much further, in many cities today, it's not nearly enough. But what about Decatur, Illinois?

To find out, Redfin Real Estate found listings near the $500,000 mark to see what types of homes you can actually afford in Decatur, Illinois right now. Listings below $500,000 were included if necessary.

5353 E Reas Bridge Rd, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $395,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,618
- See 5353 E Reas Bridge Rd, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

345 S Westdale Ave, Decatur, IL 62522
- Price: $249,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,721
- See 345 S Westdale Ave, Decatur, IL 62522 on Redfin.com

8590 Hickory Hills Dr, Argenta, IL 62501
- Price: $420,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,641
- See 8590 Hickory Hills Dr, Argenta, IL 62501 on Redfin.com

4606 Wisteria Ct, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $255,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,710
- See 4606 Wisteria Ct, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

3290 E Fitzgerald Rd, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $379,000
- 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,608
- See 3290 E Fitzgerald Rd, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

530 N Country Club Mdw, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $399,900
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,441
- See 530 N Country Club Mdw, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

818 Stevens Creek Ct, Forsyth, IL 62535
- Price: $429,500
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,372
- See 818 Stevens Creek Ct, Forsyth, IL 62535 on Redfin.com

580 Powers Ln, Decatur, IL 62522
- Price: $359,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,316
- See 580 Powers Ln, Decatur, IL 62522 on Redfin.com

384 Greenway Ln, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $425,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,254
- See 384 Greenway Ln, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

309 N Linden St, Maroa, IL 61756
- Price: $389,500
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,222
- See 309 N Linden St, Maroa, IL 61756 on Redfin.com

1190 Wedgewood Ct, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $389,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,197
- See 1190 Wedgewood Ct, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

3707 N Woodridge Dr, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $249,897
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,613
- See 3707 N Woodridge Dr, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

4454 N Prairie View Rd, Oakley, IL 62501
- Price: $407,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,423
- See 4454 N Prairie View Rd, Oakley, IL 62501 on Redfin.com

2265 S Franzy Dr, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $279,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,968
- See 2265 S Franzy Dr, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

265 Carrington Ave, Mt Zion, IL 62549
- Price: $412,500
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,216
- See 265 Carrington Ave, Mt Zion, IL 62549 on Redfin.com

821 W Karen Dr, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $249,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,146
- See 821 W Karen Dr, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

14479 Oakland Ave, Maroa, IL 61756
- Price: $399,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,680
- See 14479 Oakland Ave, Maroa, IL 61756 on Redfin.com

690 N Cove Ct, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $420,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,263
- See 690 N Cove Ct, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

66 Eastmoreland Dr, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $469,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 5,448
- See 66 Eastmoreland Dr, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

612 W Karen Dr, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $249,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,998
- See 612 W Karen Dr, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

925 S Wildwood Dr, Mt Zion, IL 62549
- Price: $289,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,192
- See 925 S Wildwood Dr, Mt Zion, IL 62549 on Redfin.com

303 W Main St, Maroa, IL 61756
- Price: $324,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,610
- See 303 W Main St, Maroa, IL 61756 on Redfin.com

8302 Goodwin Cir, Dalton City, IL 61925
- Price: $449,900
- 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 6,185
- See 8302 Goodwin Cir, Dalton City, IL 61925 on Redfin.com

1110 Woodridge Ct, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $390,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,453
- See 1110 Woodridge Ct, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

1225 W Pineview Ct, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $259,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,080
- See 1225 W Pineview Ct, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

2970 Olympia Dr, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $249,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,667
- See 2970 Olympia Dr, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

4 Forest Knolls Est, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $325,777
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,235
- See 4 Forest Knolls Est, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

933 W Frank Dr, Decatur, IL 62526
- Price: $259,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,536
- See 933 W Frank Dr, Decatur, IL 62526 on Redfin.com

2330 S Shores Dr, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $289,500
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,693
- See 2330 S Shores Dr, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com

2152 E Decatur St, Decatur, IL 62521
- Price: $299,897
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 720
- See 2152 E Decatur St, Decatur, IL 62521 on Redfin.com