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 Macon?

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

4093 Upper River Rd, Gray, GA 31032
- Price: $499,000
- 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,135
- See 4093 Upper River Rd, Gray, GA 31032 on Redfin.com

217 Shoreline Way, Macon, GA 31220
- Price: $478,605
- 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,728
- See 217 Shoreline Way, Macon, GA 31220 on Redfin.com

209 Shoreline Way, Macon, GA 31220
- Price: $493,405
- 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,687
- See 209 Shoreline Way, Macon, GA 31220 on Redfin.com

209 Shoreline Way, Macon, GA 31220
- Price: $493,605
- 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,681
- See 209 Shoreline Way, Macon, GA 31220 on Redfin.com

171 Pio Nono Ave, Macon, GA 31204
- Price: $499,000
- 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,138
- See 171 Pio Nono Ave, Macon, GA 31204 on Redfin.com

4804 Brittany Dr, Macon, GA 31210
- Price: $479,000
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,420
- See 4804 Brittany Dr, Macon, GA 31210 on Redfin.com

1659 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,158
- See 1659 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

1659 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $499,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,158
- See 1659 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

2023 Camberle Ct, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $476,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,787
- See 2023 Camberle Ct, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

2023 Camberle Ct, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $476,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,787
- See 2023 Camberle Ct, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

1578 English Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $494,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,577
- See 1578 English Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

7550 Ga Highway 42 S, Fort Valley, GA 31030
- Price: $469,900
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,794
- See 7550 Ga Highway 42 S, Fort Valley, GA 31030 on Redfin.com

615 Old River Rd, Juliette, GA 31046
- Price: $474,900
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,688
- See 615 Old River Rd, Juliette, GA 31046 on Redfin.com

112 Covington Pl, Macon, GA 31210
- Price: $495,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,451
- See 112 Covington Pl, Macon, GA 31210 on Redfin.com

1653 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $489,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,042
- See 1653 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

1653 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $489,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,042
- See 1653 Stokes Store Rd, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

104 Palmer Dr, Macon, GA 31210
- Price: $489,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,020
- See 104 Palmer Dr, Macon, GA 31210 on Redfin.com

2586 Wesleyan Dr N, Macon, GA 31210
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,900
- See 2586 Wesleyan Dr N, Macon, GA 31210 on Redfin.com

137 Courtney Leigh Ln, Macon, GA 31210
- Price: $479,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,685
- See 137 Courtney Leigh Ln, Macon, GA 31210 on Redfin.com

311 Clover Pass, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $467,500
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,208
- See 311 Clover Pass, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

1588 Waverland Dr, Macon, GA 31211
- Price: $474,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,675
- See 1588 Waverland Dr, Macon, GA 31211 on Redfin.com

279 River North Blvd, Macon, GA 31211
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,304
- See 279 River North Blvd, Macon, GA 31211 on Redfin.com

243 Copper Xing, Forsyth, GA 31029
- Price: $498,500
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,295
- See 243 Copper Xing, Forsyth, GA 31029 on Redfin.com

349 Hillridge Cv, Lizella, GA 31052
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,992
- See 349 Hillridge Cv, Lizella, GA 31052 on Redfin.com

1045 Plantation Club Cir, Gray, GA 31032
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,898
- See 1045 Plantation Club Cir, Gray, GA 31032 on Redfin.com

281 River North Blvd, Macon, GA 31211
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,670
- See 281 River North Blvd, Macon, GA 31211 on Redfin.com

111 Cordell Ct, Macon, GA 31220
- Price: $475,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,435
- See 111 Cordell Ct, Macon, GA 31220 on Redfin.com

169 Maynard Rd, Gray, GA 31032
- Price: $495,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,499
- See 169 Maynard Rd, Gray, GA 31032 on Redfin.com

2574 Lower Hartley Bridge Rd, Byron, GA 31008
- Price: $485,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,368
- See 2574 Lower Hartley Bridge Rd, Byron, GA 31008 on Redfin.com

185 Cory Dr, Macon, GA 31210
- Price: $499,500
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,882
- See 185 Cory Dr, Macon, GA 31210 on Redfin.com

This story was produced by Redfin Real Estate and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.