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

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 Altoona?

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

316 Ridge Ave, Altoona, PA 16602
- Price: $385,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,060
- See 316 Ridge Ave, Altoona, PA 16602 on Redfin.com

773 White Fox Rd, Altoona, PA 16601
- Price: $342,500
- 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,435
- See 773 White Fox Rd, Altoona, PA 16601 on Redfin.com

741 Brentwood Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $380,000
- 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,333
- See 741 Brentwood Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

79 Mill Rd, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,200
- See 79 Mill Rd, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

1410 Spruce St, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $359,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,614
- See 1410 Spruce St, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

4607 Lyndale Rd, Altoona, PA 16602
- Price: $325,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,502
- See 4607 Lyndale Rd, Altoona, PA 16602 on Redfin.com

3230 W Chestnut Ave, Altoona, PA 16601
- Price: $440,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,416
- See 3230 W Chestnut Ave, Altoona, PA 16601 on Redfin.com

1761 Princeton Rd, Altoona, PA 16602
- Price: $325,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,400
- See 1761 Princeton Rd, Altoona, PA 16602 on Redfin.com

585 Overlook Dr, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $495,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,342
- See 585 Overlook Dr, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

123 Elkview Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,156
- See 123 Elkview Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

5418 5Th Ave, Altoona, PA 16602
- Price: $337,500
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,179
- See 5418 5Th Ave, Altoona, PA 16602 on Redfin.com

430 Aggie St, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $340,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,728
- See 430 Aggie St, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

563 Lock Mountain Rd, Martinsburg, PA 16662
- Price: $379,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,636
- See 563 Lock Mountain Rd, Martinsburg, PA 16662 on Redfin.com

2 Orchard View Dr, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $330,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,600
- See 2 Orchard View Dr, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

4701 Lyndale Rd, Altoona, PA 16602
- Price: $349,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,464
- See 4701 Lyndale Rd, Altoona, PA 16602 on Redfin.com

118 Peters Ln, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $375,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,459
- See 118 Peters Ln, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

710 Garber St, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $335,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,225
- See 710 Garber St, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

341 Ironwood Dr, Martinsburg, PA 16662
- Price: $349,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,933
- See 341 Ironwood Dr, Martinsburg, PA 16662 on Redfin.com

682 Piney Creek Rd, Martinsburg, PA 16662
- Price: $399,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,924
- See 682 Piney Creek Rd, Martinsburg, PA 16662 on Redfin.com

492 Fair Valley Rd, Martinsburg, PA 16662
- Price: $399,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,920
- See 492 Fair Valley Rd, Martinsburg, PA 16662 on Redfin.com

226 Village Way, Martinsburg, PA 16662
- Price: $349,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,555
- See 226 Village Way, Martinsburg, PA 16662 on Redfin.com

151 Bridge Ln, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $339,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,408
- See 151 Bridge Ln, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

605 13Th St, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $349,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,360
- See 605 13Th St, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

10030 Charger Hwy, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $349,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,310
- See 10030 Charger Hwy, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

4 Bells Ln, Tyrone, PA 16686
- Price: $359,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,910
- See 4 Bells Ln, Tyrone, PA 16686 on Redfin.com

116 Estate Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $329,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,857
- See 116 Estate Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

328 Avalon Rd, Altoona, PA 16601
- Price: $340,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 2,231
- See 328 Avalon Rd, Altoona, PA 16601 on Redfin.com

725 Orchard Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635
- Price: $344,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,626
- See 725 Orchard Dr, Duncansville, PA 16635 on Redfin.com

2114 Pineview Dr, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
- Price: $379,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,312
- See 2114 Pineview Dr, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 on Redfin.com

2935 Gwin Rd, Altoona, PA 16601
- Price: $329,999
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,506
- See 2935 Gwin Rd, Altoona, PA 16601 on Redfin.com