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

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 Mount Vernon?

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

403 E Division St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
- Price: $489,950
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,342
- See 403 E Division St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 on Redfin.com

8323 Cedar Grove Ave, Concrete, WA 98237
- Price: $455,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,260
- See 8323 Cedar Grove Ave, Concrete, WA 98237 on Redfin.com

916 S 16Th St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
- Price: $455,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,360
- See 916 S 16Th St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 on Redfin.com

721 S Alder St, Burlington, WA 98233
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,160
- See 721 S Alder St, Burlington, WA 98233 on Redfin.com

266 Quillayute Pl, La Conner, WA 98257
- Price: $459,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,325
- See 266 Quillayute Pl, La Conner, WA 98257 on Redfin.com

8789 Cedar Ct, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
- Price: $474,050
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,690
- See 8789 Cedar Ct, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 on Redfin.com

283 Klinger St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
- Price: $480,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,347
- See 283 Klinger St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 on Redfin.com

454 S Regent St, Burlington, WA 98233
- Price: $485,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,145
- See 454 S Regent St, Burlington, WA 98233 on Redfin.com

4509 Skylers Aly, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,014
- See 4509 Skylers Aly, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 on Redfin.com

56 Sauk Pl, La Conner, WA 98257
- Price: $460,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,812
- See 56 Sauk Pl, La Conner, WA 98257 on Redfin.com

3611 Portage Ln, Anacortes, WA 98221
- Price: $469,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,317
- See 3611 Portage Ln, Anacortes, WA 98221 on Redfin.com

448 Garden Ln, Burlington, WA 98233
- Price: $485,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,314
- See 448 Garden Ln, Burlington, WA 98233 on Redfin.com

533 Fidalgo St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
- Price: $499,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,125
- See 533 Fidalgo St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 on Redfin.com

11072 Peacock Ln, Burlington, WA 98233
- Price: $465,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,742
- See 11072 Peacock Ln, Burlington, WA 98233 on Redfin.com

112 Milwaukee St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
- Price: $450,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 2,244
- See 112 Milwaukee St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 on Redfin.com

2027 E Belair Dr, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
- Price: $475,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,806
- See 2027 E Belair Dr, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 on Redfin.com

1817 S 3Rd St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,280
- See 1817 S 3Rd St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 on Redfin.com

1011 Calkin Pl, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
- Price: $465,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,008
- See 1011 Calkin Pl, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 on Redfin.com

2705 E Broadway, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
- Price: $465,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 960
- See 2705 E Broadway, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 on Redfin.com

1311 H Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,303
- See 1311 H Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221 on Redfin.com

3120 R Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221
- Price: $469,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,216
- See 3120 R Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221 on Redfin.com

5502 Chuckanut Dr, Bow, WA 98232
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,080
- See 5502 Chuckanut Dr, Bow, WA 98232 on Redfin.com

202 Reed St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 924
- See 202 Reed St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 on Redfin.com

16746 Country Club Dr, Burlington, WA 98233
- Price: $459,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,220
- See 16746 Country Club Dr, Burlington, WA 98233 on Redfin.com

24 Makah Way, La Conner, WA 98257
- Price: $499,700
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,135
- See 24 Makah Way, La Conner, WA 98257 on Redfin.com

64197 E Cascade Rd, Marblemount, WA 98267
- Price: $465,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,186
- See 64197 E Cascade Rd, Marblemount, WA 98267 on Redfin.com

73 Alder Ln, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
- Price: $465,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,152
- See 73 Alder Ln, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 on Redfin.com

16027 W Division St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
- Price: $479,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,144
- See 16027 W Division St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 on Redfin.com

1010 Talcott St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
- Price: $485,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 860
- See 1010 Talcott St, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 on Redfin.com

7489 S Dillard Ave, Concrete, WA 98237
- Price: $495,000
- 1 bedroom, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,134
- See 7489 S Dillard Ave, Concrete, WA 98237 on Redfin.com