The median net worth of American households is $192,700, according to the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances. But that single number hides enormous variation by age — the median for households under 35 is about $39,000, while for those aged 65–74 it's over $400,000.
So the question most people actually want answered is: how does my net worth compare to others my age? Here are the official numbers, what they really mean, and how to use them.
Average net worth by age in 2026
The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) is the gold standard for US household wealth data. It's conducted every three years; the figures below are from the latest published survey (2022, released October 2023), which remains the most recent official data — results from the 2025 survey are expected in late 2026.
| Age group | Median net worth | Average net worth* |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,040 | $183,380 |
| 35–44 | $135,300 | $548,070 |
| 45–54 | $246,700 | $971,270 |
| 55–64 | $364,270 | $1,564,070 |
| 65–74 | $409,900 | $1,780,720 |
| 75+ | $334,700 | $1,620,100 |
| All households | $192,700 | $1,063,700 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
Median vs. average: which should you compare against?
Use the median. The average is pulled dramatically upward by a small number of very wealthy households — that's why the "average" household under 35 appears to have $183,000 when the typical one has $39,000. The median is the middle household: half are above it, half below. It's the honest benchmark for a normal person.
Note that these are household figures, not individual ones. A couple's combined finances count as one household, which pushes the numbers higher than what a single person might expect to have alone.
What the numbers really tell you
- Below the median for your age? You're in the same position as nearly half of American households — not a crisis, but a signal worth acting on. Debt paydown and automated investing move this number faster than most people expect.
- Near the median? You're keeping pace. The question becomes whether your trajectory — the direction and speed of change — will get you where you want to be.
- Above the median? The challenge shifts from building to compounding and protecting: asset allocation, tax efficiency, and avoiding large unforced errors.
The deeper truth: your rank against strangers matters far less than your own trend line. A household at $30,000 growing 20% a year is in better shape than one at $200,000 slowly sliding backward.
Why net worth climbs with age
Four forces do most of the work:
- Time in the workforce. Older households have simply had more years to earn and save.
- Compounding. Investments made in your 20s and 30s have had decades to grow — this is why the jump from the 35–44 bracket to 55–64 is so large.
- Home equity. For most American households, paying down a mortgage while the home appreciates is the single biggest wealth builder.
- Debt payoff. Younger households carry student loans, car loans, and credit card balances that subtract directly from net worth; those typically clear with age.
The under-35 numbers deserve special mention: a negative net worth early in your career — student debt exceeding savings — is common and temporary. The direction matters, not the starting point.
How to benchmark yourself properly
- Calculate your actual net worth — everything you own minus everything you owe. Our complete guide to calculating net worth walks through what to include and how to value it.
- Compare against the median for your age group, not the average.
- Recalculate on a schedule. The comparison is a snapshot; your trend over months and years is the real signal.
- Track the drivers separately. Knowing your net worth rose is good; knowing why — market gains vs. contributions vs. home value vs. debt paydown — tells you what's actually working.
For growth tactics, see 7 Proven Ways to Grow Your Net Worth Faster.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average net worth in the US?
The average American household net worth is about $1.06 million, but that figure is skewed by the very wealthy. The median — a better measure of the typical household — is $192,700.
What net worth puts you in the top 10%?
Roughly $1.9 million in household net worth puts you in the top 10% of US households overall, though the threshold varies significantly by age.
Is a negative net worth normal?
For young adults, yes. Student loans routinely exceed early-career savings. What matters is that the number improves as debt falls and assets grow.
Where does this data come from?
The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, the most rigorous US household wealth survey. It runs every three years; the next release (covering 2025) is expected in late 2026, and we'll update this page when it lands.
The bottom line
National benchmarks are a useful reality check, but the number that changes your financial life is your own, tracked over time. Watching your net worth month over month — and understanding what moved it — turns an abstract statistic into a feedback loop.
That's exactly what NetTrack is built for: connect your accounts, see your full net worth in one place, and watch your trend line — with a breakdown of exactly what changed each month. Start free at nettrack.me.