(STACKER) - 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 Springfield, Illinois?

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

26 Circle Dr, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $430,000
- 8 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,150
- See 26 Circle Dr, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

4 Red Bud Run, Sherman, IL 62684
- Price: $469,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,079
- See 4 Red Bud Run, Sherman, IL 62684 on Redfin.com

61 Taft Dr, Rochester, IL 62563
- Price: $374,999
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,424
- See 61 Taft Dr, Rochester, IL 62563 on Redfin.com

918 Cypress Dr, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $489,900
- 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,310
- See 918 Cypress Dr, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

15263 Hilltop St, Petersburg, IL 62675
- Price: $450,000
- 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 5,596
- See 15263 Hilltop St, Petersburg, IL 62675 on Redfin.com

65 Linden Ln, Springfield, IL 62712
- Price: $464,500
- 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,189
- See 65 Linden Ln, Springfield, IL 62712 on Redfin.com

3805 West Bluffs Rd, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $429,000
- 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,193
- See 3805 West Bluffs Rd, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

3704 Crystal Spring Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $460,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,706
- See 3704 Crystal Spring Dr, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

2214 Hopwood Dr, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $485,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,142
- See 2214 Hopwood Dr, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

3802 Sugar Loaf Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $444,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,539
- See 3802 Sugar Loaf Dr, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

8200 New City Rd, Rochester, IL 62563
- Price: $459,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,116
- See 8200 New City Rd, Rochester, IL 62563 on Redfin.com

2501 Kipling Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $495,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,062
- See 2501 Kipling Dr, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

104 Northwoods Ct, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $479,900
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 4,000
- See 104 Northwoods Ct, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

8033 Wilson Ter, Springfield, IL 62712
- Price: $390,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,649
- See 8033 Wilson Ter, Springfield, IL 62712 on Redfin.com

1847 New Salem Church Rd, New Berlin, IL 62670
- Price: $449,000
- 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,536
- See 1847 New Salem Church Rd, New Berlin, IL 62670 on Redfin.com

409 N Durkin Dr, Springfield, IL 62702
- Price: $389,000
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,080
- See 409 N Durkin Dr, Springfield, IL 62702 on Redfin.com

1600 E Spruce St, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $464,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,812
- See 1600 E Spruce St, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

300 Hodges Ct, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $454,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,158
- See 300 Hodges Ct, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

304 Hodges Ct, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $452,900
- 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,100
- See 304 Hodges Ct, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

4117 Gaskell Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $389,000
- 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,084
- See 4117 Gaskell Dr, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

5622 N Lake Rd, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $369,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,964
- See 5622 N Lake Rd, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

3200 Greenbriar Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $459,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,457
- See 3200 Greenbriar Dr, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

1529 Williams Blvd, Springfield, IL 62704
- Price: $389,900
- 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,323
- See 1529 Williams Blvd, Springfield, IL 62704 on Redfin.com

17531 Old Fairgrounds Rd, Petersburg, IL 62675
- Price: $479,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 3,323
- See 17531 Old Fairgrounds Rd, Petersburg, IL 62675 on Redfin.com

2530 River Bluff Rd, Mechanicsburg, IL 62545
- Price: $375,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 2,803
- See 2530 River Bluff Rd, Mechanicsburg, IL 62545 on Redfin.com

68 Moonlight Ct, Chatham, IL 62629
- Price: $449,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,695
- See 68 Moonlight Ct, Chatham, IL 62629 on Redfin.com

5302 Verdant Ln, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $450,000
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,850
- See 5302 Verdant Ln, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

1404 Winston Dr, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $469,900
- 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,821
- See 1404 Winston Dr, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

4621 Eugene Ct, Springfield, IL 62711
- Price: $389,900
- 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
- Square feet: 1,722
- See 4621 Eugene Ct, Springfield, IL 62711 on Redfin.com

25 Club Area, Springfield, IL 62712
- Price: $500,000
- 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms
- Square feet: 6,403
- See 25 Club Area, Springfield, IL 62712 on Redfin.com

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