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

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 Knoxville?

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

7304 Napa Valley Way, Knoxville, TN 37931
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,727
- See 7304 Napa Valley Way, Knoxville, TN 37931 on Redfin.com

1647 Ila Perdue Dr, Knoxville, TN 37931
- Price: $499,999
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,792
- See 1647 Ila Perdue Dr, Knoxville, TN 37931 on Redfin.com

6759 Fox Manor Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37909
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,785
- See 6759 Fox Manor Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37909 on Redfin.com

10043 Rutledge Pike, Corryton, TN 37721
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,368
- See 10043 Rutledge Pike, Corryton, TN 37721 on Redfin.com

2004 Plumb Ridge Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932
- Price: $499,999
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,688
- See 2004 Plumb Ridge Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932 on Redfin.com

1721 Gray Oaks Ln, Knoxville, TN 37932
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,630
- See 1721 Gray Oaks Ln, Knoxville, TN 37932 on Redfin.com

36 Deer Ridge Rd, Norris, TN 37828
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,616
- See 36 Deer Ridge Rd, Norris, TN 37828 on Redfin.com

609 Lark Meadow Dr, Farragut, TN 37934
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,584
- See 609 Lark Meadow Dr, Farragut, TN 37934 on Redfin.com

1125 Blackstone View Ln, Knoxville, TN 37932
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,128
- See 1125 Blackstone View Ln, Knoxville, TN 37932 on Redfin.com

7403 Tinover Ct, Knoxville, TN 37938
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,105
- See 7403 Tinover Ct, Knoxville, TN 37938 on Redfin.com

8529 W Emory Rd, Knoxville, TN 37931
- Price: $499,999
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,582
- See 8529 W Emory Rd, Knoxville, TN 37931 on Redfin.com

102 Oakdale St, Maryville, TN 37801
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,856
- See 102 Oakdale St, Maryville, TN 37801 on Redfin.com

2814 Montvale Rd, Maryville, TN 37803
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,626
- See 2814 Montvale Rd, Maryville, TN 37803 on Redfin.com

127 Lakeview Dr, Harriman, TN 37748
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,728
- See 127 Lakeview Dr, Harriman, TN 37748 on Redfin.com

7247 Alysha Vineyard Way, Knoxville, TN 37931
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,727
- See 7247 Alysha Vineyard Way, Knoxville, TN 37931 on Redfin.com

130 Chelsea Ln, Maryville, TN 37803
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,696
- See 130 Chelsea Ln, Maryville, TN 37803 on Redfin.com

118 Scenic Yard Ln, Maryville, TN 37804
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,410
- See 118 Scenic Yard Ln, Maryville, TN 37804 on Redfin.com

4221 Cadillac Dr, Powell, TN 37849
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,204
- See 4221 Cadillac Dr, Powell, TN 37849 on Redfin.com

140 Wakefield Rd, Knoxville, TN 37922
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,950
- See 140 Wakefield Rd, Knoxville, TN 37922 on Redfin.com

1017 Heritage Square Ct, Maryville, TN 37803
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,218
- See 1017 Heritage Square Ct, Maryville, TN 37803 on Redfin.com

1160 Treymour Way, Knoxville, TN 37922
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,972
- See 1160 Treymour Way, Knoxville, TN 37922 on Redfin.com

3001 River Towne Way, Knoxville, TN 37920
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,408
- See 3001 River Towne Way, Knoxville, TN 37920 on Redfin.com

468 Rudd Rd, Townsend, TN 37882
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 748
- See 468 Rudd Rd, Townsend, TN 37882 on Redfin.com

391 Laurel Rd, Townsend, TN 37882
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,361
- See 391 Laurel Rd, Townsend, TN 37882 on Redfin.com

1533 Middlesettlements Rd, Maryville, TN 37801
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,316
- See 1533 Middlesettlements Rd, Maryville, TN 37801 on Redfin.com

689 Johnson Hollow Rd, New Tazewell, TN 37825
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,248
- See 689 Johnson Hollow Rd, New Tazewell, TN 37825 on Redfin.com

133 Westwing Cave Rd, Townsend, TN 37882
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,200
- See 133 Westwing Cave Rd, Townsend, TN 37882 on Redfin.com

299 Tar Town Hollow Ln, La Follette, TN 37766
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,040
- See 299 Tar Town Hollow Ln, La Follette, TN 37766 on Redfin.com

1060 Worlds Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 880
- See 1060 Worlds Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916 on Redfin.com