A $1 million starter home is the new normal in over 200 cities

A starter home used to be considered a smaller, but more affordable option for young families and other first-time buyers looking to enter the real estate market.

That may no longer be the case.

These days, the typical starter home is worth at least $1 million in 237 cities, the most ever, according to new findings published by Zillow. Five years ago, just 84 cities met that criteria. Zillow defines a starter home as being among those in the lowest third of home values in a given region.