The median American family has a net worth of $215,900, and the average is $1.24 million, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, released on October 9, 2026. Net worth rises with age: the median is $33,000 for households under 35 and peaks at $504,900 for those 75 and older. Here are the latest numbers by age, with income, retirement and debt statistics.
Key statistics
- Median family net worth: $215,900, up 2% from 2022 after inflation.
- Average (mean) family net worth: $1.24 million, up 7%.
- Under-35 households saw median net worth fall 23%, to $33,000.
- Households 75 and older saw the biggest gain: up 37%, to $504,900, making them the wealthiest age group by median.
- Median family income: $82,200, up 7%.
- 54.9% of families have a retirement account; the median balance among those who do is $106,000.
- 56% of families own stocks, directly or through funds. Their median holding is $77,400, up 36%.
- 8.6% of families spend more than 40% of their income on debt payments, the highest share since 2013.
Net worth by age (2025)
| Age of household head | Median net worth | Average net worth | Median in 2022 | Change in median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $33,000 | $135,400 | $42,700 | −23% |
| 35 to 44 | $155,600 | $681,900 | $148,400 | +5% |
| 45 to 54 | $253,700 | $1,244,500 | $270,600 | −6% |
| 55 to 64 | $411,900 | $1,878,000 | $398,900 | +3% |
| 65 to 74 | $431,300 | $1,897,600 | $448,600 | −4% |
| 75 and older | $504,900 | $1,962,200 | $367,300 | +37% |
| All families | $215,900 | $1,240,000 | +2% |
All figures are in 2025 dollars, so changes are after inflation.
Median vs average: which should you use?
The median is the middle household: half have more and half have less. The average is pulled up by very wealthy families, which is why it is four to six times higher. To see how you compare with a typical household your age, use the median. You can check your own figure with our net worth calculator.
Median income by age (2025)
| Age of household head | 2022 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $66,200 | $67,800 | +2% |
| 35 to 44 | $94,000 | $97,000 | +3% |
| 45 to 54 | $100,500 | $108,900 | +8% |
| 55 to 64 | $89,700 | $92,400 | +3% |
| 65 to 74 | $66,600 | $69,400 | +4% |
| 75 and older | $53,800 | $66,800 | +24% |
Income is before tax and for the whole family. It peaks between 45 and 54.
Retirement savings by age (2025)
| Age of household head | Average balance, families with an IRA or 401(k)-type plan |
|---|---|
| Under 35 | $48,400 |
| 35 to 44 | $182,400 |
| 45 to 54 | $415,800 |
| 55 to 64 | $670,200 |
These are averages among families that have an account, so they run higher than what a typical household holds. Across all ages, the median retirement account balance is $106,000, and about 45% of families have no retirement account at all. See how much you should have saved by age and 401(k) balances by age for targets.
Homes, stocks, cash and debt
| Measure | 2022 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Homeownership rate | About 66% | 66% |
| Median home equity, homeowners | $218,900 | $230,000 |
| Families owning stocks | 58% | 56% |
| Median stock holdings, owners | $56,900 | $77,400 |
| Families with a retirement account | 54.3% | 54.9% |
| Median retirement account balance, owners | $95,200 | $106,000 |
| Median checking and savings balance | $8,800 | $8,200 |
| Families with any debt | About 77% | 77% |
| Debt payments above 40% of income | 6.5% | 8.6% |
What the numbers show
- Older households pulled ahead. Rising stock and home prices lifted families that already owned assets. Households 75 and older gained the most.
- Younger households fell behind. Under-35 median net worth dropped by nearly a quarter, as fewer young families own homes or stocks.
- Owning assets mattered more than income. Median stock holdings rose 36% while median income rose 7%.
- Debt stress is rising. More families are devoting a large share of income to debt payments.
How to grow your net worth
- Pay down high-interest debt first. See the debt payoff calculator.
- Build an emergency fund so a surprise bill does not become new debt.
- Invest regularly in low-cost index funds through a 401(k) or IRA.
- Start early. Our guide on how to start investing covers the first steps.
- Live prices and sentiment on every ticker page
- Weekly email with your watchlist movers
- Price alerts on the stocks and coins you follow
Frequently asked questions
What is a good net worth for my age?
Being above the median for your age group means you are ahead of half of US households: $33,000 under 35, $155,600 at 35 to 44, $253,700 at 45 to 54 and $411,900 at 55 to 64.
What net worth puts you in the top 10%?
The Fed reports that the median net worth of the wealthiest 10% of families was about $3.6 million in 2025.
How often is this data updated?
The Survey of Consumer Finances is run every three years. The 2025 survey is the latest, and the next is due in 2028, with results about a year later.
Source and how to cite
Data: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2022 to 2025: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances, October 2026. Percentage changes are calculated by Smart Money Watch from the Fed’s tables. You are welcome to use these tables with a link to this page as the source.
This article is general information, not financial advice.
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