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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 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 , affordability keeps dropping, and are becoming harder to find as home values . This has created a very sluggish and difficult housing market. In fact, even the usual busy spring and summer buying seasons were this year.

While $500,000 once stretched much further, in many cities today, it's not nearly enough. But what about Boulder?

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

1262 Lanyon Ln, Longmont, CO 80503
- Price: $498,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,636
- See 1262 Lanyon Ln, Longmont, CO 80503 on

1208 S Coffman St, Longmont, CO 80501
- Price: $500,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,836
- See 1208 S Coffman St, Longmont, CO 80501 on

1744 Corey St, Longmont, CO 80501
- Price: $499,000
- 4 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,764
- See 1744 Corey St, Longmont, CO 80501 on

300 River View Ct, Longmont, CO 80501
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,462
- See 300 River View Ct, Longmont, CO 80501 on

227 Cattail Ct, Longmont, CO 80501
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,860
- See 227 Cattail Ct, Longmont, CO 80501 on

572 Ridgeview Dr, Louisville, CO 80027
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,550
- See 572 Ridgeview Dr, Louisville, CO 80027 on

2855 Rock Creek Cir, Superior, CO 80027
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,492
- See 2855 Rock Creek Cir, Superior, CO 80027 on

1242 Penner Dr, Lafayette, CO 80026
- Price: $499,950
- 3 bedrooms, 2.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,438
- See 1242 Penner Dr, Lafayette, CO 80026 on

1933 Emery St, Longmont, CO 80501
- Price: $499,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,380
- See 1933 Emery St, Longmont, CO 80501 on

110 W Coal Creek Dr, Superior, CO 80027
- Price: $499,950
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,136
- See 110 W Coal Creek Dr, Superior, CO 80027 on

410 High Point Dr, Longmont, CO 80504
- Price: $495,161
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,705
- See 410 High Point Dr, Longmont, CO 80504 on

1423 Great Western Dr, Longmont, CO 80501
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2.3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,248
- See 1423 Great Western Dr, Longmont, CO 80501 on

2417 Calais Dr, Longmont, CO 80504
- Price: $490,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,558
- See 2417 Calais Dr, Longmont, CO 80504 on

1596 Bradley Dr, Boulder, CO 80305
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,020
- See 1596 Bradley Dr, Boulder, CO 80305 on

20 S Boulder Cir, Boulder, CO 80303
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 993
- See 20 S Boulder Cir, Boulder, CO 80303 on

2902 Shadow Creek Dr, Boulder, CO 80303
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 876
- See 2902 Shadow Creek Dr, Boulder, CO 80303 on

1850 Folsom St, Boulder, CO 80302
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,357
- See 1850 Folsom St, Boulder, CO 80302 on

1757 High Plains Ct, Superior, CO 80027
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,286
- See 1757 High Plains Ct, Superior, CO 80027 on

4500 Baseline Rd, Boulder, CO 80303
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,051
- See 4500 Baseline Rd, Boulder, CO 80303 on

5918 Gunbarrel Ave, Boulder, CO 80301
- Price: $498,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,033
- See 5918 Gunbarrel Ave, Boulder, CO 80301 on

33436 Highway 72, Golden, CO 80403
- Price: $495,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,353
- See 33436 Highway 72, Golden, CO 80403 on

3009 Madison Ave, Boulder, CO 80303
- Price: $494,999
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,102
- See 3009 Madison Ave, Boulder, CO 80303 on

800 W Moorhead Cir, Boulder, CO 80305
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,044
- See 800 W Moorhead Cir, Boulder, CO 80305 on

707 E Emma St, Lafayette, CO 80026
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 837
- See 707 E Emma St, Lafayette, CO 80026 on

1379 Charles Dr, Longmont, CO 80503
- Price: $499,000
- 2 bedrooms, 0.8 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,272
- See 1379 Charles Dr, Longmont, CO 80503 on

1420 Lee Hill Dr, Boulder, CO 80304
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 907
- See 1420 Lee Hill Dr, Boulder, CO 80304 on

3215 Foundry Pl, Boulder, CO 80301
- Price: $499,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 858
- See 3215 Foundry Pl, Boulder, CO 80301 on

1850 Folsom St, Boulder, CO 80302
- Price: $490,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 801
- See 1850 Folsom St, Boulder, CO 80302 on

850 20Th St, Boulder, CO 80302
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 672
- See 850 20Th St, Boulder, CO 80302 on

2201 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 631
- See 2201 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302 on