How much house does $500,000 buy you in Cedar Rapids?

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 Cedar Rapids?

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

235 S 21St Street Ct, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $479,000
- 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,086
- See 235 S 21St Street Ct, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

6416 Windy Meadow Ln Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
- Price: $475,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,940
- See 6416 Windy Meadow Ln Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 on Redfin.com

4000 Majestic Ct Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
- Price: $489,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,593
- See 4000 Majestic Ct Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 on Redfin.com

3355 Wild Rose Rd, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411
- Price: $497,950
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,142
- See 3355 Wild Rose Rd, Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 on Redfin.com

109 Wood Ridge Rd, Anamosa, IA 52205
- Price: $469,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,804
- See 109 Wood Ridge Rd, Anamosa, IA 52205 on Redfin.com

2770 Burns Dr, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $489,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,785
- See 2770 Burns Dr, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

225 Meadows Field Dr Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52302
- Price: $499,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,569
- See 225 Meadows Field Dr Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

3125 Sunflower St, Ely, IA 52227
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,355
- See 3125 Sunflower St, Ely, IA 52227 on Redfin.com

2144 Grande Ave Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
- Price: $464,900
- 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,123
- See 2144 Grande Ave Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 on Redfin.com

2260 Country Club Pkwy Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,745
- See 2260 Country Club Pkwy Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 on Redfin.com

4315 Snowgoose Dr, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $479,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,198
- See 4315 Snowgoose Dr, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

3329 Center Ct, Robins, IA 52328
- Price: $494,990
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,671
- See 3329 Center Ct, Robins, IA 52328 on Redfin.com

2070 Royal Oak Ridge Rd, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $479,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,398
- See 2070 Royal Oak Ridge Rd, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

72 Pumpkin Patch Blvd, Bertram, IA 52403
- Price: $490,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,370
- See 72 Pumpkin Patch Blvd, Bertram, IA 52403 on Redfin.com

3340 Village Way, Robins, IA 52328
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,358
- See 3340 Village Way, Robins, IA 52328 on Redfin.com

840 Longbow Ct, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $490,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,335
- See 840 Longbow Ct, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

3456 Quartz Dr, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $488,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,460
- See 3456 Quartz Dr, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

7509 Country Ridge Dr Nw, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
- Price: $465,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,758
- See 7509 Country Ridge Dr Nw, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 on Redfin.com

5524 Cimarron Ct, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $484,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,867
- See 5524 Cimarron Ct, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

5141 25Th Ave, Brandon, IA 52210
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,492
- See 5141 25Th Ave, Brandon, IA 52210 on Redfin.com

5658 Meadow Grass Cir Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
- Price: $470,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,414
- See 5658 Meadow Grass Cir Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 on Redfin.com

827 Tumble Grass Ct Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
- Price: $485,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,348
- See 827 Tumble Grass Ct Se, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 on Redfin.com

5758 20Th Avenue Dr, Vinton, IA 52349
- Price: $474,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,239
- See 5758 20Th Avenue Dr, Vinton, IA 52349 on Redfin.com

2261 Creekside Rd, Springville, IA 52336
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,470
- See 2261 Creekside Rd, Springville, IA 52336 on Redfin.com

1510 Cardinal Dr, Fairfax, IA 52228
- Price: $465,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,741
- See 1510 Cardinal Dr, Fairfax, IA 52228 on Redfin.com

4314 Hastings Dr, Marion, IA 52302
- Price: $465,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,708
- See 4314 Hastings Dr, Marion, IA 52302 on Redfin.com

1529 3Rd St Sw, Mount Vernon, IA 52314
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,707
- See 1529 3Rd St Sw, Mount Vernon, IA 52314 on Redfin.com

3215 Sunflower St, Ely, IA 52227
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,539
- See 3215 Sunflower St, Ely, IA 52227 on Redfin.com

5589 22Nd Avenue Trl, Vinton, IA 52349
- Price: $475,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,727
- See 5589 22Nd Avenue Trl, Vinton, IA 52349 on Redfin.com

718 4Th St Nw, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,224
- See 718 4Th St Nw, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 on Redfin.com