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

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 Milwaukee?

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

2734 N Murray Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211
- Price: $499,900
- 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,092
- See 2734 N Murray Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 on Redfin.com

600 W Garfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212
- Price: $499,900
- 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,082
- See 600 W Garfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212 on Redfin.com

3158 Skyline Dr, Hubertus, WI 53033
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,500
- See 3158 Skyline Dr, Hubertus, WI 53033 on Redfin.com

2608 N 45Th St, Milwaukee, WI 53210
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,720
- See 2608 N 45Th St, Milwaukee, WI 53210 on Redfin.com

N77W15736 Crossway Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,165
- See N77W15736 Crossway Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 on Redfin.com

2526 W Dunwood Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53209
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,196
- See 2526 W Dunwood Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53209 on Redfin.com

660 Spur Rd, Slinger, WI 53086
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,969
- See 660 Spur Rd, Slinger, WI 53086 on Redfin.com

2545 N Swan Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,583
- See 2545 N Swan Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53226 on Redfin.com

353 E Becher St, Milwaukee, WI 53207
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,728
- See 353 E Becher St, Milwaukee, WI 53207 on Redfin.com

1753 N Marshall St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,125
- See 1753 N Marshall St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 on Redfin.com

948 N Green Bay Rd, Grafton, WI 53024
- Price: $499,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,200
- See 948 N Green Bay Rd, Grafton, WI 53024 on Redfin.com

1101 Niagara Rd, Oconomowoc, WI 53066
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,020
- See 1101 Niagara Rd, Oconomowoc, WI 53066 on Redfin.com

511 Acorn Pass, Hartford, WI 53027
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,950
- See 511 Acorn Pass, Hartford, WI 53027 on Redfin.com

14048 W Waters Edge Trl, New Berlin, WI 53151
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,504
- See 14048 W Waters Edge Trl, New Berlin, WI 53151 on Redfin.com

4685 N 150Th St, Brookfield, WI 53005
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,197
- See 4685 N 150Th St, Brookfield, WI 53005 on Redfin.com

902 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,100
- See 902 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 on Redfin.com

603 Jordan Cir, Colgate, WI 53017
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,100
- See 603 Jordan Cir, Colgate, WI 53017 on Redfin.com

6216 N Santa Monica Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53217
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,001
- See 6216 N Santa Monica Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53217 on Redfin.com

2848 Fox Lake Cir, Waukesha, WI 53189
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,910
- See 2848 Fox Lake Cir, Waukesha, WI 53189 on Redfin.com

W220N5459 Town Line Rd, Sussex, WI 53089
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,900
- See W220N5459 Town Line Rd, Sussex, WI 53089 on Redfin.com

4766 N Idlewild Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,446
- See 4766 N Idlewild Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 on Redfin.com

3620 County Road O, Saukville, WI 53080
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,724
- See 3620 County Road O, Saukville, WI 53080 on Redfin.com

N21W24305 Cumberland Dr, Pewaukee, WI 53072
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,526
- See N21W24305 Cumberland Dr, Pewaukee, WI 53072 on Redfin.com

165 Aerie Cir, Brookfield, WI 53045
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,696
- See 165 Aerie Cir, Brookfield, WI 53045 on Redfin.com

8063 S Quincy Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,716
- See 8063 S Quincy Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154 on Redfin.com

8055 S Quincy Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,675
- See 8055 S Quincy Ave, Oak Creek, WI 53154 on Redfin.com

N51W34861 Wisconsin Ave, Okauchee, WI 53069
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,642
- See N51W34861 Wisconsin Ave, Okauchee, WI 53069 on Redfin.com

561 Pioneer Ct, Dousman, WI
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,505
- See 561 Pioneer Ct, Dousman, WI on Redfin.com

1300 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,474
- See 1300 N Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202 on Redfin.com

148 Wolf Dr, Dousman, WI 53118
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,150
- See 148 Wolf Dr, Dousman, WI 53118 on Redfin.com