Headlines love the average American net worth: just over $1 million per household. That number is technically correct and almost useless. The median household, the one right in the middle, has $192,700.
If you've ever looked up "average net worth by age" and felt hopelessly behind, this is why. Here are the median figures for every age group, why the gap with the average is so large, and how to benchmark yourself honestly.
Median net worth by age in 2026
The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) is the most rigorous US household wealth data available. The figures below are from the latest published survey (2022, released October 2023), which is still the current official data. The 2025 survey results are expected in late 2026.
| Age group | Median net worth | Average net worth | Average ÷ median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,040 | $183,380 | 4.7× |
| 35–44 | $135,300 | $548,070 | 4.1× |
| 45–54 | $246,700 | $971,270 | 3.9× |
| 55–64 | $364,270 | $1,564,070 | 4.3× |
| 65–74 | $409,900 | $1,780,720 | 4.3× |
| 75+ | $334,700 | $1,620,100 | 4.8× |
| All households | $192,700 | $1,063,700 | 5.5× |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (2022 survey, 2022 dollars).
In every age bracket the average is roughly four to five times the median. That ratio is the whole story of American wealth distribution in one column.
Why the median and average are so far apart
The median is the middle household: line up every household by net worth, and the median is the one in the center. Half have more, half have less.
The average adds up every household's net worth and divides by the number of households. That means a single household worth $50 million counts the same as 250 households worth $200,000 each. A few thousand very wealthy families pull the average far above what a typical household actually has.
A quick illustration. Take five households with net worths of $20,000, $60,000, $150,000, $300,000, and $5,000,000:
- Median: $150,000 (the middle value)
- Average: $1,106,000
Four of the five households are nowhere near the average. That's the US in miniature.
So which should you compare against? The median, every time. It answers the question you're actually asking: "what does a normal household my age have?"
How the median has changed
Median net worth jumped sharply between the 2019 and 2022 surveys, the largest three-year increase the SCF has ever recorded. Adjusted for inflation, the overall median rose about 37%, from roughly $141,000 to $192,700.
The under-35 group saw the biggest gain, with its median more than doubling from around $16,000. Pandemic-era stimulus, a strong labor market, rising home values, and a stock market rally all landed at once. The 75-and-over group gained the least, at roughly 9%.
That context matters when you compare yourself: the bar rose quickly, and a household that felt "on track" in 2019 may now sit below the median without having done anything wrong.
Reading your own number
Find your age bracket and compare. Then keep three things in mind.
These are household figures. A married couple's combined finances count as one household. If you're single, the fair comparison is somewhat lower than the table shows.
Home equity is included. The SCF counts your home's market value as an asset and your mortgage as a liability. For most households in the 45-and-over brackets, home equity is the largest single component of the median. If you rent, your net worth will often trail the median even when your savings and investments are ahead of the typical homeowner's.
The median hides the spread within each group. In the under-35 bracket, roughly a quarter of households have a negative net worth, mostly from student loans. The median of $39,040 sits between those households and others with six figures already saved. If you want to know where you land within your bracket, our net worth percentile by age guide has the 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile cutoffs.
What moves the median from bracket to bracket
- Under 35 → 35–44 (3.5× jump). Debt payoff and first-home purchases. Student loans clear, car loans get replaced by equity, and a down payment becomes home equity that appreciates.
- 35–44 → 45–54 (1.8× jump). Peak earning years plus a decade of retirement contributions compounding.
- 45–54 → 55–64 (1.5× jump). Mortgages get paid down or paid off, and investment balances are large enough that market growth outpaces contributions.
- 65–74 (peak). Most households have stopped accumulating and are drawing down, but home equity and portfolios are at their largest.
- 75+ (decline). Spending down retirement savings, healthcare costs, and, for some, gifting to children.
For a deeper look at those drivers, see the companion post on average net worth by age.
How to benchmark yourself properly
- Calculate your actual net worth. Everything you own minus everything you owe. Our step-by-step guide covers what to include and how to value it.
- Compare against the median for your bracket. Ignore the average column entirely.
- Adjust for your situation. Single-person household, renter, or living in a high-cost city? Shade the benchmark down accordingly.
- Recheck on a schedule. The comparison is a snapshot. Your trend over months and years is the real signal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median net worth in the US?
$192,700 per household, according to the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. That's the midpoint: half of US households have more, half have less.
What is the median net worth of a 30-year-old?
Roughly $39,000. The SCF groups everyone under 35 together, and the median for that bracket is $39,040. A 30-year-old is at the older end of the bracket, so the true figure for that exact age is likely somewhat higher.
What is the median net worth of a 40-year-old?
About $135,300 for the 35–44 bracket. A 40-year-old sits in the middle of that range, so the bracket median is a reasonable estimate.
What is the median net worth of a 50-year-old?
About $246,700 for the 45–54 bracket.
What is the median net worth at retirement?
About $364,270 for households aged 55–64 and $409,900 for those aged 65–74, the two brackets that span typical retirement age.
Is the median net worth by age different for individuals vs. households?
Yes. The SCF reports households. An individual figure would be lower, particularly in brackets where most households are two-earner couples.
Where does this data come from?
The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, conducted every three years. The 2022 survey (published October 2023) is the latest. The next release, covering 2025, is expected in late 2026, and we'll update this page when it lands.
The bottom line
Compare against the median, not the average. The average tells you about the wealthiest sliver of the country; the median tells you about people like you.
Better still, stop comparing against a snapshot and start tracking your own number over time. That's what NetTrack is built for: connect your accounts, see your full net worth in one place, and watch what actually moves it each month. Start free at nettrack.me.
Leave a Reply