How much house does $500,000 buy you in Washington, D.C.?

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 Washington, D.C.?

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

225 56Th Pl Ne, Washington, DC 20019
- Price: $500,000
- 8 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,957
- See 225 56Th Pl Ne, Washington, DC 20019 on Redfin.com

3420 Prince Edward Dr, White Plains, MD 20695
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,274
- See 3420 Prince Edward Dr, White Plains, MD 20695 on Redfin.com

2005 Tinker Dr, Fort Washington, MD 20744
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,340
- See 2005 Tinker Dr, Fort Washington, MD 20744 on Redfin.com

1528 Hunt Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20785
- Price: $500,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,096
- See 1528 Hunt Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20785 on Redfin.com

2014 Victoria Dr, Stafford, VA 22554
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,376
- See 2014 Victoria Dr, Stafford, VA 22554 on Redfin.com

94 E River Bend Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,993
- See 94 E River Bend Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 on Redfin.com

3004 Eider Ct, Waldorf, MD 20601
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,500
- See 3004 Eider Ct, Waldorf, MD 20601 on Redfin.com

17442 Bayou Bend Cir, Dumfries, VA 22025
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,299
- See 17442 Bayou Bend Cir, Dumfries, VA 22025 on Redfin.com

12712 Parkton St, Fort Washington, MD 20744
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,025
- See 12712 Parkton St, Fort Washington, MD 20744 on Redfin.com

436 Spyglass Hill Dr, Charles Town, WV 25414
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,506
- See 436 Spyglass Hill Dr, Charles Town, WV 25414 on Redfin.com

13102 Gerry Rd, Clinton, MD 20735
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,424
- See 13102 Gerry Rd, Clinton, MD 20735 on Redfin.com

108 Myrtleleaf Cir, La Plata, MD 20646
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,298
- See 108 Myrtleleaf Cir, La Plata, MD 20646 on Redfin.com

2300 Avalon Ct, Waldorf, MD 20603
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,184
- See 2300 Avalon Ct, Waldorf, MD 20603 on Redfin.com

5113 Fielding Lewis Ct, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,150
- See 5113 Fielding Lewis Ct, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 on Redfin.com

1910 Belfast Dr, Fort Washington, MD 20744
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,184
- See 1910 Belfast Dr, Fort Washington, MD 20744 on Redfin.com

14204 Bremerton Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22193
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,472
- See 14204 Bremerton Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22193 on Redfin.com

2808 Saint Marys View Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,534
- See 2808 Saint Marys View Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607 on Redfin.com

5803 Walden Commons Ct, Burke, VA 22015
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,512
- See 5803 Walden Commons Ct, Burke, VA 22015 on Redfin.com

14849 Leicester Ct, Centreville, VA 20120
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,240
- See 14849 Leicester Ct, Centreville, VA 20120 on Redfin.com

948 Division Ave Ne, Washington, DC 20019
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,244
- See 948 Division Ave Ne, Washington, DC 20019 on Redfin.com

13259 Stonehouse Mountain Rd, Culpeper, VA 22701
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,536
- See 13259 Stonehouse Mountain Rd, Culpeper, VA 22701 on Redfin.com

905 W Poplar Rd, Sterling, VA 20164
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,092
- See 905 W Poplar Rd, Sterling, VA 20164 on Redfin.com

5511 Wyndemere Cir, Mineral, VA 23117
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,664
- See 5511 Wyndemere Cir, Mineral, VA 23117 on Redfin.com

518 Quintana Pl Nw, Washington, DC 20011
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,495
- See 518 Quintana Pl Nw, Washington, DC 20011 on Redfin.com

7308 15Th Pl, Takoma Park, MD 20912
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,467
- See 7308 15Th Pl, Takoma Park, MD 20912 on Redfin.com

1715 William St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,389
- See 1715 William St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 on Redfin.com

15404 Clayburn Dr, Laurel, MD 20707
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,200
- See 15404 Clayburn Dr, Laurel, MD 20707 on Redfin.com

500 Hamilton St Ne, Washington, DC 20011
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,692
- See 500 Hamilton St Ne, Washington, DC 20011 on Redfin.com

1397 Morris Rd Se, Washington, DC 20020
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,680
- See 1397 Morris Rd Se, Washington, DC 20020 on Redfin.com

2939 Van Ness St Nw, Washington, DC 20008
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,071
- See 2939 Van Ness St Nw, Washington, DC 20008 on Redfin.com