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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 Boston?

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

89 Dixon Rd, Brockton, MA 02302
- Price: $499,990
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,518
- See 89 Dixon Rd, Brockton, MA 02302 on

43 14Th Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,173
- See 43 14Th Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830 on

54 Porter Ave, Revere, MA 02151
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,544
- See 54 Porter Ave, Revere, MA 02151 on

28 Beech St, Townsend, MA 01469
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,440
- See 28 Beech St, Townsend, MA 01469 on

4 Josephine St, Franklin, MA 02038
- Price: $500,000
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,294
- See 4 Josephine St, Franklin, MA 02038 on

63 Melrose Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,260
- See 63 Melrose Ave, Haverhill, MA 01830 on

217 Highland Ave, Malden, MA 02148
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,183
- See 217 Highland Ave, Malden, MA 02148 on

500 Howard St, Brockton, MA 02302
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,848
- See 500 Howard St, Brockton, MA 02302 on

99 S Meadow Rd, Carver, MA 02330
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,386
- See 99 S Meadow Rd, Carver, MA 02330 on

67 Brickel Rd, Stoughton, MA 02072
- Price: $499,999
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,312
- See 67 Brickel Rd, Stoughton, MA 02072 on

58 Front St, Holliston, MA 01746
- Price: $499,900
- 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,141
- See 58 Front St, Holliston, MA 01746 on

272 Lincoln St, Marlborough, MA 01752
- Price: $499,988
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,130
- See 272 Lincoln St, Marlborough, MA 01752 on

306 Trailside Way, Ashland, MA 01721
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,224
- See 306 Trailside Way, Ashland, MA 01721 on

32 Whites Ave, Watertown, MA 02472
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,075
- See 32 Whites Ave, Watertown, MA 02472 on

4 S Spooner St, Plymouth, MA 02360
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,000
- See 4 S Spooner St, Plymouth, MA 02360 on

2 S Spooner St, Plymouth, MA 02360
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,000
- See 2 S Spooner St, Plymouth, MA 02360 on

126 Mountain Gate Rd, Ashland, MA 01721
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,492
- See 126 Mountain Gate Rd, Ashland, MA 01721 on

110 Bellingham St, Chelsea, MA 02150
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,220
- See 110 Bellingham St, Chelsea, MA 02150 on

58 Weatherly Dr, Salem, MA 01970
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,108
- See 58 Weatherly Dr, Salem, MA 01970 on

900 Shirley St, Winthrop, MA 02152
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 1,015
- See 900 Shirley St, Winthrop, MA 02152 on

31 Springfield Dr, Littleton, MA 01460
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 900
- See 31 Springfield Dr, Littleton, MA 01460 on

1 King St, Dorchester, MA 02122
- Price: $499,999
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 827
- See 1 King St, Dorchester, MA 02122 on

249 Lake St, Waltham, MA 02451
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 792
- See 249 Lake St, Waltham, MA 02451 on

70 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
- Price: $499,900
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 714
- See 70 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 on

10 Avon St, Somerville, MA 02143
- Price: $500,000
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 670
- See 10 Avon St, Somerville, MA 02143 on

409 Lynn Fells Pkwy, Saugus, MA 01906
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,685
- See 409 Lynn Fells Pkwy, Saugus, MA 01906 on

14 Everett St, Dorchester, MA 02122
- Price: $499,900
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 780
- See 14 Everett St, Dorchester, MA 02122 on

89 Prescott St, Boston, MA 02128
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 771
- See 89 Prescott St, Boston, MA 02128 on

62 Foundry St, Wakefield, MA 01880
- Price: $499,900
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 725
- See 62 Foundry St, Wakefield, MA 01880 on

60 Babcock St, Brookline, MA 02446
- Price: $500,000
- 0 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Square feet: 509
- See 60 Babcock St, Brookline, MA 02446 on