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

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 Appleton?

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

309 E Evergreen Dr, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $464,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,131
- See 309 E Evergreen Dr, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

2398 W Barley Way, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $494,000
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,642
- See 2398 W Barley Way, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

307 Red Cedar Pkwy, Kimberly, WI 54136
- Price: $484,800
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,612
- See 307 Red Cedar Pkwy, Kimberly, WI 54136 on Redfin.com

W2286 Valleywood Ln, Appleton, WI 54915
- Price: $455,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,560
- See W2286 Valleywood Ln, Appleton, WI 54915 on Redfin.com

2155 Cottonwood Dr, Menasha, WI 54952
- Price: $469,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,513
- See 2155 Cottonwood Dr, Menasha, WI 54952 on Redfin.com

385 N Wilson St, Kimberly, WI 54136
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,397
- See 385 N Wilson St, Kimberly, WI 54136 on Redfin.com

5096 N Milkweed Trl, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $474,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,388
- See 5096 N Milkweed Trl, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

N9315 Gemstone Ct, Appleton, WI 54915
- Price: $474,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,250
- See N9315 Gemstone Ct, Appleton, WI 54915 on Redfin.com

N9359 Gemstone Ct, Appleton, WI 54915
- Price: $474,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,250
- See N9359 Gemstone Ct, Appleton, WI 54915 on Redfin.com

305 Greenbrier Dr, Hortonville, WI 54944
- Price: $459,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,150
- See 305 Greenbrier Dr, Hortonville, WI 54944 on Redfin.com

4715 N Brookshire Dr, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $469,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,547
- See 4715 N Brookshire Dr, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

W4344 State Highway 114, Hilbert, WI 54129
- Price: $490,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,096
- See W4344 State Highway 114, Hilbert, WI 54129 on Redfin.com

3717 E Gladiolus Pl, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $485,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,068
- See 3717 E Gladiolus Pl, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

374 Satori Trl, Kimberly, WI 54136
- Price: $499,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,912
- See 374 Satori Trl, Kimberly, WI 54136 on Redfin.com

372 Satori Trl, Kimberly, WI 54136
- Price: $499,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,883
- See 372 Satori Trl, Kimberly, WI 54136 on Redfin.com

920 Clover Ct, Menasha, WI 54952
- Price: $479,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,838
- See 920 Clover Ct, Menasha, WI 54952 on Redfin.com

N9221 Dylan Dr, Appleton, WI 54915
- Price: $464,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,774
- See N9221 Dylan Dr, Appleton, WI 54915 on Redfin.com

N1845 Schroeder Farm Dr, Greenville, WI 54942
- Price: $474,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,762
- See N1845 Schroeder Farm Dr, Greenville, WI 54942 on Redfin.com

N3616 Gavin Dr, Freedom, WI 54913
- Price: $464,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,693
- See N3616 Gavin Dr, Freedom, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

W6534 Manitowoc Rd, Menasha, WI 54952
- Price: $489,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,719
- See W6534 Manitowoc Rd, Menasha, WI 54952 on Redfin.com

W5935 Daffodil Dr, Appleton, WI 54915
- Price: $489,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,680
- See W5935 Daffodil Dr, Appleton, WI 54915 on Redfin.com

3400 Beckett Ln, Kaukauna, WI 54130
- Price: $497,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,143
- See 3400 Beckett Ln, Kaukauna, WI 54130 on Redfin.com

415 N Pine Grove Ln, Hortonville, WI 54944
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,073
- See 415 N Pine Grove Ln, Hortonville, WI 54944 on Redfin.com

3710 Callalilly Ln, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $459,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,720
- See 3710 Callalilly Ln, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

3687 Callalilly Ln, Appleton, WI 54913
- Price: $459,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,705
- See 3687 Callalilly Ln, Appleton, WI 54913 on Redfin.com

W7055 Otis Dr, Greenville, WI 54942
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,684
- See W7055 Otis Dr, Greenville, WI 54942 on Redfin.com

W7043 Otis Dr, Greenville, WI 54942
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,684
- See W7043 Otis Dr, Greenville, WI 54942 on Redfin.com

N1885 Medina Dr, Greenville, WI 54942
- Price: $459,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,635
- See N1885 Medina Dr, Greenville, WI 54942 on Redfin.com

201 Rivers Edge Dr, Kimberly, WI 54136
- Price: $465,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,624
- See 201 Rivers Edge Dr, Kimberly, WI 54136 on Redfin.com

2996 Georgetown Pl, Menasha, WI 54952
- Price: $459,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,542
- See 2996 Georgetown Pl, Menasha, WI 54952 on Redfin.com