What Is Average Credit Score in America? A 2026 Breakdown by State, Age, and Score Tier

If you're asking what is average credit score in america, the current figure is 713 to 714 as of the latest 2026 data from Experian and FICO.

That places the typical American consumer inside the "Good" credit band (670–739) and marks the first nationwide dip in over a decade.

Quick Answer: What Is Average Credit Score in America Today?

The national average FICO score now sits at 713 (Experian) and 714 (FICO via CNBC Select). Both numbers reflect a 1–2 point slide from the year prior the first yearly decline recorded since 2013.

For most households, that figure puts them comfortably inside the "Good" credit tier. Translated into lender terms, the average American is treated as an acceptable credit risk for everyday products: credit cards, auto financing, and mortgages.

A 1–2 point drop reads small on paper, but national averages rarely shift at all. When they do, it usually points to something bigger moving underneath the surface of the economy.

What Qualifies as a "Good" Credit Score?

Before the average makes real sense, you need to see where it lands on the full scale. Credit scores stretch from 300 to 850, and lenders rely on either the FICO or VantageScore model to evaluate borrowers.

FICO Score Tiers

VantageScore Tiers

VantageScore uses slightly different thresholds. A score at or below 600 is classified as poor or very poor. The fair tier covers 601 to 660. Anything from 661 to 780 is "good," and scores above 780 are excellent.

Why the National Average Sits in "Good" Territory

Here's something most people overlook: the U.S. average has lived inside the "Good" band for years. That isn't accidental.

Lenders structure their products around this tier, and consumers naturally drift toward it as their credit files mature with time.

Average Credit Score by State

State-level numbers tell a richer story. A clear regional pattern emerges the Upper Midwest and New England consistently outperform, while Southern states tend to trail behind. This is where credit score by state data becomes genuinely useful.

Full State-by-State Average FICO Score (2024 vs. 2025)

Top and Bottom Performing States

The top five and bottom five repeat themselves year after year with very little movement.

Highest: Minnesota (741), Vermont (737), Wisconsin (737), New Hampshire (735), Washington (734).

Lowest: Mississippi (677), Louisiana (686), Alabama (689), Georgia (692), Texas (692).

Lenders almost never apply state averages directly to underwriting decisions, but the geographic split mirrors real differences in income levels, cost of living, and access to mainstream credit.

The Score Spread Between States

The gap between the strongest and weakest state averages runs about 64 points a meaningful divide. Two consumers with otherwise identical financial profiles could end up in different credit tiers based purely on the regional economy they live in.

Average Credit Score by Age and Generation

Age carries more weight in credit scoring than people typically assume. Length of credit history alone accounts for 15% of a FICO score, meaning older consumers begin with a structural advantage. Looking at average FICO score by age confirms this clearly.

By Generation (Experian Data)

By Decade of Life (Chase Data)

A separate breakdown by age decade shows the same upward curve:

• 20s: 662
• 30s: 672
• 40s: 684
• 50s: 706
• 60+: 749

Why Scores Climb With Age

A few reasons stack up. Older consumers usually carry longer credit histories, a broader range of account types, and more time to bounce back from earlier financial missteps.

Many have already paid off or paid down large obligations like mortgages. Younger borrowers, on the other hand, are often still building their files from the ground up, which caps how high their scores can climb regardless of behavior.

How U.S. Credit Scores Are Distributed

National averages can hide a lot of detail. Examining how scores are actually spread out paints a clearer picture of where Americans really stand.

Notable Distribution Patterns

Roughly 70% of Americans now hold scores in the "Good" range or higher. At the same time, the share with "Exceptional" scores has climbed to an all-time peak of 22.8%. Meanwhile, the poor tier expanded from 13.2% to 14.7% in a single year.

Put differently, the middle is shrinking while both ends grow. Industry watchers have started calling this a "K-shaped" credit landscape.

The shift partly tracks back to the resumption of student loan delinquency reporting, as reported by CNBC, which began landing on credit files in early 2025 and pulled the national average down for a second straight year.

How Credit Scores Are Actually Calculated

Most U.S. lending decisions still run on FICO. VantageScore is the leading alternative, and the FICO score range remains the industry benchmark for risk classification.

FICO Scoring Factors

VantageScore Factors

When comparing VantageScore vs FICO, the weightings shift slightly. Payment history makes up 40%, age and account type 21%, percent of credit used 20%, total balances 11%, recent credit activity 5%, and available credit the remaining 3%.

Both models ultimately reward the same fundamentals: paying bills on time, avoiding maxed-out balances, and leaving accounts open long enough to develop a credit history.

What Credit Utilization Reveals About the Average

The credit utilization ratio how much of your available credit you're currently using is the second-most influential piece of your FICO score. The national average has stayed put at 29% for two years running.

The pattern is impossible to miss. Consumers with exceptional scores almost always sit below 10% utilization, while those in the poor tier are typically near their limits. As a working benchmark, anything above 30% tends to weigh down your score.

Delinquency Trends Behind the Numbers

Delinquencies payments that fall more than 30 days behind shape national averages quietly in the background.

Mortgages and auto loans are moving in the wrong direction. Credit cards and personal loans have held mostly flat, with long-term data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis showing credit card delinquency rates still well beneath their Great Recession highs.

Lending analysts commonly observe that delinquency shifts of this magnitude tend to lead broader credit score movements by 12 to 24 months.

What the Average Score Means for Your Wallet

A national figure is only useful when you can measure yourself against it.

If Your Score Beats the Average

You'll likely qualify for competitive interest rates across most consumer loans and credit cards. Lenders typically classify you as a low-risk borrower.

If Your Score Hovers Near the Average

You'll get approved for most mainstream credit products, though not always at the best advertised rates. Borrowers here are seen as acceptable just not preferred.

If Your Score Falls Below the Average

Your options narrow. Expect higher interest rates, smaller credit limits, or bigger required deposits. The upside is that the path forward is well documented and within reach.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

There's no overnight fix. Real improvement comes from a small set of consistent habits and learning how to improve credit score is mostly about repetition, not tricks.

• Pay every bill on time. Payment history is the single largest scoring factor. Even one late payment can stay on your report for years.
• Keep utilization low. Stay under 30% of your available credit. The strongest scorers generally sit below 10%.
• Don't close old accounts. Your oldest account's age contributes to your overall credit history length.
• Limit new applications. Each hard inquiry creates a small, short-lived dip.
• Check your credit regularly. Reviewing your own report is a soft inquiry — it doesn't hurt your score, and catching errors early can recover real points.

Conclusion

The average credit score in America stands at 713–714 in 2026 firmly inside the "Good" range but down for the first time in more than a decade.

State, age, and distribution data point to a credit landscape that's slowly pulling apart at both ends. Knowing exactly where you sit against these benchmarks puts you in a better position to make smart financial moves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average credit score in America right now?

The U.S. average credit score is 713–714 in 2026, based on Experian and FICO data. It sits in the "Good" credit range and reflects a 1–2 point dip from the year before.

What counts as a good credit score in the U.S.?

A FICO score of 670 or higher is classified as "Good." Scores between 740 and 799 are "Very Good," and anything 800 or above is "Exceptional." Most lenders treat 670+ as the cutoff for favorable terms.

Which state has the highest and lowest average credit scores?

Minnesota leads the country with an average score of 741. Mississippi sits at the bottom with 677. The spread between them is roughly 64 points.

Which age group has the highest average credit score?

The Silent Generation (80+) leads with an average of 760, followed by Baby Boomers at 747. Generation Z holds the lowest spot at 678.

Does checking my own credit score lower it?

No. Checking your own credit is a soft inquiry and has no effect on your score. Only hard inquiries from lender applications can cause a small, temporary drop.