How much house does $500,000 buy you in Portland, Oregon?

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 Portland, Oregon?

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

618 Ne 120Th Ave, Portland, OR 97220
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,116
- See 618 Ne 120Th Ave, Portland, OR 97220 on Redfin.com

11703 Ne 128Th Pl, Vancouver, WA 98682
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,929
- See 11703 Ne 128Th Pl, Vancouver, WA 98682 on Redfin.com

17748 Sw Breda Ct, Beaverton, OR 97003
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,600
- See 17748 Sw Breda Ct, Beaverton, OR 97003 on Redfin.com

3600 Thompson Ave, Vancouver, WA 98660
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,380
- See 3600 Thompson Ave, Vancouver, WA 98660 on Redfin.com

6900 Ne 58Th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,092
- See 6900 Ne 58Th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98661 on Redfin.com

407 Nw 85Th St, Vancouver, WA 98665
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,495
- See 407 Nw 85Th St, Vancouver, WA 98665 on Redfin.com

1987 Ne Currin Creek Dr, Estacada, OR 97023
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,988
- See 1987 Ne Currin Creek Dr, Estacada, OR 97023 on Redfin.com

8116 Ne 163Rd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98682
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,778
- See 8116 Ne 163Rd Ave, Vancouver, WA 98682 on Redfin.com

10507 Ne 90Th St, Vancouver, WA 98662
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,504
- See 10507 Ne 90Th St, Vancouver, WA 98662 on Redfin.com

3515 Nw 122Nd St, Vancouver, WA 98685
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,856
- See 3515 Nw 122Nd St, Vancouver, WA 98685 on Redfin.com

8312 Se Liebe St, Portland, OR 97266
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,973
- See 8312 Se Liebe St, Portland, OR 97266 on Redfin.com

545 Sw 6Th Ct, Gresham, OR 97080
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,814
- See 545 Sw 6Th Ct, Gresham, OR 97080 on Redfin.com

2221 S Meadowlark Dr, Ridgefield, WA 98642
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,021
- See 2221 S Meadowlark Dr, Ridgefield, WA 98642 on Redfin.com

4841 Sw Chianti Pl, Beaverton, OR 97078
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,714
- See 4841 Sw Chianti Pl, Beaverton, OR 97078 on Redfin.com

3807 E Coffey Ln, Newberg, OR 97132
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,616
- See 3807 E Coffey Ln, Newberg, OR 97132 on Redfin.com

280 S 1St St, Saint Helens, OR 97051
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,104
- See 280 S 1St St, Saint Helens, OR 97051 on Redfin.com

2209 Se 178Th Ave, Portland, OR 97233
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,064
- See 2209 Se 178Th Ave, Portland, OR 97233 on Redfin.com

3308 Sw Binford Lake Pkwy, Gresham, OR 97080
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,601
- See 3308 Sw Binford Lake Pkwy, Gresham, OR 97080 on Redfin.com

52234 Se Tyler St, Scappoose, OR 97056
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,584
- See 52234 Se Tyler St, Scappoose, OR 97056 on Redfin.com

3326 Ne 80Th Ave, Portland, OR 97213
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,463
- See 3326 Ne 80Th Ave, Portland, OR 97213 on Redfin.com

19600 S South End Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,284
- See 19600 S South End Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045 on Redfin.com

4925 Ne Garfield Ave, Portland, OR 97211
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,984
- See 4925 Ne Garfield Ave, Portland, OR 97211 on Redfin.com

20 Summit Ridge Ct, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,704
- See 20 Summit Ridge Ct, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 on Redfin.com

1860 Ne Orenco Station Pkwy, Hillsboro, OR 97124
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,478
- See 1860 Ne Orenco Station Pkwy, Hillsboro, OR 97124 on Redfin.com

2926 Sw Texas St, Portland, OR 97219
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,420
- See 2926 Sw Texas St, Portland, OR 97219 on Redfin.com

2352 Ne 153Rd Pl, Portland, OR 97230
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,776
- See 2352 Ne 153Rd Pl, Portland, OR 97230 on Redfin.com

196 Se Spokane St, Portland, OR 97202
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,342
- See 196 Se Spokane St, Portland, OR 97202 on Redfin.com

6920 Nw Thompson Rd, Portland, OR 97229
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,356
- See 6920 Nw Thompson Rd, Portland, OR 97229 on Redfin.com

6310 Sw 35Th Ave, Portland, OR 97221
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,578
- See 6310 Sw 35Th Ave, Portland, OR 97221 on Redfin.com

944 Sw Dolph St, Portland, OR 97219
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,141
- See 944 Sw Dolph St, Portland, OR 97219 on Redfin.com