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

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 Johnson City?

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

118 Meadow Ct, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $499,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,110
- See 118 Meadow Ct, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

313 Lamont St, Johnson City, TN 37604
- Price: $489,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,885
- See 313 Lamont St, Johnson City, TN 37604 on Redfin.com

704 E Watauga Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601
- Price: $499,700
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,972
- See 704 E Watauga Ave, Johnson City, TN 37601 on Redfin.com

620 Glen Oaks Pl, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,628
- See 620 Glen Oaks Pl, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

123 Tangency Dr, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $488,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,480
- See 123 Tangency Dr, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

165 Slonaker Cir, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,466
- See 165 Slonaker Cir, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

209 Brystone Dr, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,936
- See 209 Brystone Dr, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

211 Michaels Ridge Blvd, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $489,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,067
- See 211 Michaels Ridge Blvd, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

662 Douglas Shed Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,830
- See 662 Douglas Shed Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

817 N Hills Dr, Johnson City, TN 37604
- Price: $495,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,552
- See 817 N Hills Dr, Johnson City, TN 37604 on Redfin.com

1540 Prospects Way, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,819
- See 1540 Prospects Way, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

1270 Cabot Cv, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,777
- See 1270 Cabot Cv, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

106 Davis Rd, Fall Branch, TN 37656
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,371
- See 106 Davis Rd, Fall Branch, TN 37656 on Redfin.com

169 Paynetown Rd, Telford, TN 37690
- Price: $499,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,163
- See 169 Paynetown Rd, Telford, TN 37690 on Redfin.com

361 Bill Bennett Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604
- Price: $495,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,016
- See 361 Bill Bennett Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604 on Redfin.com

1530 Powder Branch Rd, Johnson City, TN 37601
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,980
- See 1530 Powder Branch Rd, Johnson City, TN 37601 on Redfin.com

211 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615
- Price: $498,500
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,947
- See 211 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

769 Twilight Fls, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $489,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,892
- See 769 Twilight Fls, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

826 Hairetown Rd, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,892
- See 826 Hairetown Rd, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

212 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615
- Price: $493,500
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,886
- See 212 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

755 Twilight Fls, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $489,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,863
- See 755 Twilight Fls, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

199 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615
- Price: $497,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,863
- See 199 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

157 Marigold Ln, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $485,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,742
- See 157 Marigold Ln, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

816 Hairetown Rd, Jonesborough, TN 37659
- Price: $492,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,725
- See 816 Hairetown Rd, Jonesborough, TN 37659 on Redfin.com

315 Cedar Creek Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615
- Price: $499,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,680
- See 315 Cedar Creek Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

286 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,678
- See 286 Dry Kiln Ct, Gray, TN 37615 on Redfin.com

1533 Pactolas Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,640
- See 1533 Pactolas Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604 on Redfin.com

1533 Pactolas Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,640
- See 1533 Pactolas Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604 on Redfin.com

1533 Pactolas Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,640
- See 1533 Pactolas Rd, Johnson City, TN 37604 on Redfin.com

153 H R King Rd, Gray, TN 37615
- Price: $489,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,442
- See 153 H R King Rd, Gray, TN 37615 on Redfin.com