Average Net Worth by Age
Enter your household net worth and pick your age group to see how you compare to the median U.S. household — straight from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. Calm, no shame: a low or negative number early on is completely normal.
How you compare
Your net worth vs. the median for your age group
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Learn moreWhy the average is so misleading
You'll often see "average net worth" headlines quoting the mean — the Federal Reserve's national mean household net worth is $1,063,700. But the median (the household exactly in the middle) is only $192,900. The mean is pulled about 5.5× higher than the median because a relatively small number of very wealthy households own an outsized share of total wealth. For the 45–54 age group specifically, the median is roughly $247,200 while the mean for that same group is roughly $971,000 — nearly 4× higher. The median is almost always the fairer number for "am I normal" comparisons, which is why every figure on this page is a median.
How it’s calculated & sources
You enter your household net worth and pick an age bracket; we compare your number to the published median net worth for that bracket and show where you land on a scale from half the median up to well above it.
Benchmark: median household net worth by age, Federal Reserve, Survey of Consumer Finances 2022 (latest published).
Results update as you type and are general estimates for context, not personalized financial advice.
Worked example
A 50-year-old with a $450,000 household net worth falls in the 45–54 bracket, where the Fed's median is $247,200. $450,000 is about 1.8× that median — comfortably above the midpoint for that age group, even though it's far below the (mean-skewed) $971,000 average sometimes quoted for the bracket.
Common mistakes
- Comparing yourself to the mean ($1,063,700 nationally) instead of the median ($192,900) — the mean is skewed by a small number of very wealthy households.
- Treating a negative net worth as a failure rather than a normal, temporary stage while paying off student loans or a first mortgage.
- Forgetting that net worth is a snapshot, not income — two households earning the same salary can have very different net worth depending on debt and savings history.
Where it is used
- Checking your progress against a real, sourced benchmark instead of a headline "average."
- Setting a realistic savings or debt-payoff target for your age group.
- Understanding how net worth typically grows through your 30s, 40s, and 50s and tapers after 65–74.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the average net worth so much higher than the median?
The national mean household net worth is about $1,063,700 versus a median of just $192,900 — the average is pulled roughly 5.5x higher by a small number of very wealthy households. The median is a far better "typical household" benchmark because it isn't skewed by outliers at the top.
Is net worth the same as income?
No. Income is what you earn in a year; net worth is a snapshot of everything you own minus everything you owe, built up over your whole life. A high earner with a big mortgage and no savings can have a lower net worth than a modest earner who has paid off their home.
When does net worth peak?
Per the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, median net worth peaks in the 65–74 age group at about $409,900, then declines somewhat for 75+ as retirees draw down savings.
When does the next Federal Reserve survey come out?
The Fed's Survey of Consumer Finances runs every three years; the 2025 survey's results are expected to be published in late 2026 or 2027. This page uses the latest published data, the 2022 survey.
How do I calculate my own net worth?
Add up your assets (cash, investments, retirement accounts, home equity, vehicles) and subtract your debts (mortgage, loans, credit cards). Our net worth calculator walks through every line item and gives you a running total.