Here is the average credit score at every age in the U.S.—see how yours stacks up (2024)

Although Americans' average credit scores recently dropped for the first time in a decade, many appear to be maintaining a relatively healthy score.

The average credit score dipped by one point, from 718 to 717, according to FICO's March 6 blog post. Your FICO and VantageScore credit score can fall anywhere between 300 and 850, and a 717 score is considered to be "very good," according to the VantageScore model.

Here are VantageScore's rankings and ranges:

  • Very Poor: 300 to 499
  • Poor: 500 to 600
  • Good: 601 to 660
  • Very Good: 661 to 780
  • Exceptional: 781 to 850

When you break down the average credit score by age, most Americans appear to have a good score as well.

Here's the average credit score by generation as of March 2024, per VantageScore CreditGauge data shared with CNBC Make It:

  • Gen Z (18 to 27): 665
  • Millennials (28 to 43): 687
  • Gen X (44 to 59): 710
  • Baby boomers (60 to 78): 746
  • Silent generation (79 to 96): 750

Many factors are used to calculate your credit score, including your payment history, the amounts you owe, your credit mix and how often you've recently opened a new line of credit. It's understandable that older generations tend to have higher scores since they've had a longer time to establish and maintain their credit.

However, Generation Z and millennials are more likely to move up to a higher credit tier at a faster rate than older generations, according to OpenLending and TransUnion's "Financing the Future" report.

How to take your credit score to the next level

When it comes to boosting your credit score, expert advice is pretty straightforward: Do your best to pay down your debt.

"The best way to improve your credit score in both the long and short run is to pay down your loan balances," Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, tells CNBC Make It. "That can obviously be easier said than done, but it should always be the goal."

Another way to help your score move up is to ask your lender to increase your credit limit, which helps improve your credit utilization ratio, Schulz says. Your credit utilization rate is the amount of your total available credit that you're using.

For example, if you have one credit card with a $4,000 limit and you're carrying a balance of $1,000, your credit utilization would be 25%. If your lender increases your limit to $6,000, it would lower your credit utilization to around 16%.

If your credit utilization rises above 30%, it can start to negatively impact your score, according to Experian.

However, if your request to increase your credit limit is granted, it's important not to spend up to that new limit, "otherwise you'll be digging your hole even deeper," Schulz says.

Ultimately, maintaining a healthy credit score comes down to consistency.

"It is about paying your bills on time every single time, keeping your balances as low as possible and not applying for too much credit too often," he says. "If you do these things consistently for years, your credit is going to be just fine."

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Here is the average credit score at every age in the U.S.—see how yours stacks up (1)

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Here's the 'magic formula' behind a perfect credit score

Here is the average credit score at every age in the U.S.—see how yours stacks up (2024)

FAQs

What is the average credit score in America by age? ›

Here's the average credit score by generation as of March 2024, per VantageScore CreditGauge data shared with CNBC Make It: Gen Z (18 to 27): 665. Millennials (28 to 43): 687. Gen X (44 to 59): 710.

What is an average credit card score? ›

The average FICO® Score in the United States was 715 in 2023, according to Experian data, increasing by one point from its 714 average in the third quarter (Q3) of 2022.

What is the average age of credit score 800? ›

Full credit report profile of people with credit scores of 800 or higher
FactorEveryoneSilent generation
Credit utilization ratio6.1%4.6%
Age of oldest active account21.7 years28.2 years
Number of open accounts8.37.1
Credit inquiries in past 2 years1.81.4
4 more rows
Jan 17, 2023

Is a 900 credit score possible? ›

Highlights: While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

What is the average credit score in the US? ›

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.

How much of your credit score is age? ›

15% Length of Credit History: Account age increases over time, and as long as you keep your oldest accounts open, they'll be calculated into your average account age.

What is the average credit score by age 18? ›

The average credit score by age 18 is 679. A good credit score can help you apply for loans, pay less for insurance, and qualify for lower interest rates. For young adults, starting to build credit earlier than later can make the biggest difference in the future.

What is a perfect credit score? ›

A perfect credit score of 850 is hard to get, but an excellent credit score is more achievable. If you want to get the best credit cards, mortgages and competitive loan rates — which can save you money over time — excellent credit can help you qualify. "Excellent" is the highest tier of credit scores you can have.

What is the average credit card score for a 20 year old? ›

The average FICO credit score for this age range is around 679, which is considered "good" or "very good" but is relatively lower than someone older with more credit history.

How rare is an 800 credit score? ›

How rare is an 800 credit score? An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.

How rare is an 825 credit score? ›

Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data.

What is a good credit score to buy a car? ›

Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.

Is a 1000 credit score possible? ›

A credit score of 1,000 is not possible because the standard credit score range used by FICO and VantageScore is 300 to 850. Other credit scoring models have a high of 900 or 950, but they are industry-specific and only used by certain financial institutions.

Has anyone gotten an 850 credit score? ›

Although a lot of people might like the idea of a perfect credit score, they'd likely have a hard time actually achieving it. In the U.S., only about 1.7 percent of the scorable population had a perfect 850 FICO credit score in April 2023, according to FICO data.

What is the highest credit score ever recorded? ›

And when people talk about achieving the “highest” credit score possible, they're usually talking about the ever-elusive 850 FICO® Score. Earning a perfect 850 FICO Score isn't common, but it's certainly possible.

Is a 700 credit score good for a 20 year old? ›

So, given the fact that the average credit score for people in their 20s is 630 and a “good” credit score is typically around 700, it's safe to say a good credit score in your 20s is in the high 600s or low 700s.

What credit score do most 30 year olds have? ›

Average FICO 8 score by age
Age groupAverage FICO 8 score
18-29680
30-39692
40-49706
50-59724
1 more row
Mar 7, 2024

Is 700 a good credit score for a 25 year old? ›

Average Credit Scores FAQs

Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.

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