Whats the Average Credit Score in the US in 2026?

What's the average credit score in the US? It's 714, according to FICO's Spring 2026 Credit Insights Report.

That's down two points from 716 a year earlier marking the second consecutive annual decline and the lowest national reading since early 2020.

The number still sits inside the good credit score range, but the direction of travel is what matters.

After more than a decade of steady increases, the national average has now slipped two years in a row. That trend is worth understanding before it shapes your next loan application.

Whats the Average Credit Score in the US, and Is 714 Strong?

Short answer: yes, technically. On the standard FICO scale, anything from 670 to 739 is classified as "good." So the national average clears that bar but only just.

What's often overlooked is that "good" doesn't mean optimal. Borrowers with scores in the good range will typically qualify for most credit products, but they won't get the lowest interest rates available. Those tend to go to people in the 740-plus range.

In practice, the difference between a 714 and a 760 can translate to meaningful savings over the life of a mortgage or auto loan. Tools like a credit tracker can help you see where you stand and understand what your number means for borrowing.

Why Has the National Average Slipped Again in 2026?

For more than a decade leading up to 2023, the national average FICO score climbed steadily. The decline to 714 in 2026 makes it two consecutive years of falling scores the longest sustained downturn since the financial crisis.

Several factors contributed. As reported by CNBC, student loan delinquency reporting resumed after a multi-year federal pause, driving sharp rises in early- and late-stage delinquencies through 2025 that continued to weigh on scores into 2026.

A modest uptick in mortgage delinquencies added to the pressure, with missed mortgage payments returning to pre-pandemic levels. Inflation and elevated interest rates kept pressure on everyday spending, particularly on housing and transportation costs.

Interestingly, the average credit utilization rate how much of available credit people are using held relatively steady through the year.

That suggests the score decline wasn't caused by people maxing out their cards. It appears to be more about missed payments and shifts in debt behavior than reckless spending.

Average Credit Score by Age Group

Scores tend to rise with age. That's not a coincidence longer credit histories, more account types, and years of on-time payments all push scores upward over time. Younger borrowers are simply working with less of that history.

Generation	Age Range	Average FICO Score (2026)	Change from 2025
Generation Z	18–28	676	-2 points
Millennials	29–44	687	-2 points
Generation X	45–60	709	Unchanged
Baby Boomers	61–79	747	+1 point
Silent Generation	80+	760	Unchanged

Gen Z and millennials continue to take the biggest hits and that's partly structural. These generations carry more student loan debt, have fewer assets to fall back on, and are more sensitive to income disruptions.

According to data from Bloomberg, Gen Z borrowers took the biggest hit of any age group in 2025, helping pull overall credit scores lower in what was the worst year for US consumer credit quality since the financial crisis a pattern that has carried into 2026.

Baby boomers, by contrast, mostly have paid-off or low-balance mortgages, stable credit histories, and fewer new financial demands. That profile ages well on a credit report.

How Credit Scores Vary by State

Geography matters more than most people expect. Average FICO scores still vary by more than 60 points between the highest and lowest-ranked states heading into 2026.

The pattern is fairly consistent: Upper Midwest and New England states tend to score higher; southern states tend to score lower.

The reasons aren't fully explained by any single variable income levels, credit access, local economic conditions, and debt composition all play a role.

States Leading the Country in Credit Health

State	Average FICO Score (2026)
Minnesota	741
Vermont	737
Wisconsin	737
New Hampshire	735
Washington	734

States Trailing the National Average

State	Average FICO Score (2026)
Mississippi	677
Louisiana	686
Alabama	689
Georgia	692
Texas	692

Worth noting: despite the back-to-back declines, average FICO scores in 2026 remain higher than they were in 2020 across most states. The longer arc still leans positive.

How Scores Are Spread Across American Consumers in 2026

The national average tells one story. The distribution tells another.

As of 2026, roughly 70% of US consumers still hold a FICO score of 670 or higher meaning most Americans qualify as good credit risks by lenders' basic standards.

Notably, a record 48.1% of consumers now have scores of 750 or above. But the picture at the bottom of the scale is also shifting.

FICO Score Range	Rating	% of Consumers (2025)	% of Consumers (2026)
300–579	Poor	13.2%	14.7%
580–669	Fair	15.5%	14.9%
670–739	Good	21.0%	20.1%
740–799	Very Good	27.8%	27.5%
800–850	Exceptional	22.5%	22.8%

The "poor" tier grew from 13.2% to 14.7% in a single year. At the same time, the "exceptional" tier reached an all-time high of 22.8%.

What's happening in the middle  the fair, good, and very good buckets is a gradual migration outward in both directions. Some people are improving their credit; others are falling behind. Analysts have started calling this pattern a "K-shaped" credit economy.

What Each Credit Score Tier Actually Signals

FICO Score Tiers Explained

Score Range	Rating	What It Generally Means
300–579	Poor	Limited approval chances; high-interest products only
580–669	Fair	Some approvals; above-average rates
670–739	Good	Most products accessible; moderate rates
740–799	Very Good	Strong approval odds; competitive rates
800–850	Exceptional	Best rates; highest approval likelihood

How VantageScore Splits the Same Scale

VantageScore uses the same 300–850 scale but draws the lines differently:

Score Range	Rating
300–600	Poor / Very Poor
601–660	Fair
661–780	Good
781–850	Excellent

Which Scoring Model Do Lenders Rely On?

FICO is the dominant model used in over 90% of US lending decisions in 2026. VantageScore appears more often in free credit monitoring tools.

For example, Chase Credit Journey uses VantageScore 3.0. If you check your score through a bank app or a free service and it looks different from a mortgage lender's number, this is likely why.

The Ingredients Behind Your Credit Score

Both FICO and VantageScore pull from the same underlying credit data, but they weight the factors differently.

How FICO Weighs Each Factor

Factor	Weight
Payment history	35%
Amounts owed (utilization)	30%
Length of credit history	15%
Credit mix	10%
New credit	10%

How VantageScore Weighs Each Factor

Factor	Weight
Payment history	40%
Age and type of credit	21%
Percent of credit used	20%
Total balances and debt	11%
Recent credit behavior	5%
Available credit	3%

Both models agree on the big picture: paying on time and keeping balances low matters most. The specifics shift slightly depending on which model a lender runs.

Credit Utilization Patterns Worth Watching

The national average credit utilization rate held close to 29% heading into 2026. That's just under the commonly cited 30% threshold.

In practice, most financial advisors treat 30% as a soft ceiling, not a hard rule. If you're unsure how to calculate your own ratio, a utilization calculator can help you work out what fraction of your credit limit you're currently using.

Consumers with exceptional credit scores tend to keep utilization well under 10% for example, using $50 or less on a card with a $1,000 limit.

FICO Score Range	Average Credit Utilization
Poor (300–579)	79%
Fair (580–669)	61%
Good (670–739)	39%
Very Good (740–799)	15%
Exceptional (800–850)	7%

The correlation is clear. Low utilization is one of the most reliable markers of a strong credit profile.

Practical Ways to Push Your Score Higher in 2026

Nothing here is complicated. What's hard is consistency.Pay on time, every time. Payment history is the single biggest factor in both FICO and VantageScore.

One missed payment can leave a mark for years. Setting up autopay for at least the minimum due is a reliable safety net.

Keep balances low. Aim to use less than 30% of any credit card's limit. If you can get it under 10%, better still.

Don't close old accounts. Length of credit history counts. An old card you rarely use still adds value to your credit profile just by existing.

Limit new applications. Every hard inquiry from a new credit application causes a small, temporary dip. Spacing out applications reduces this effect.

Check your credit report regularly. Errors on credit reports are more common than most people realize.

Disputing inaccurate negative marks late payments you didn't miss, accounts you don't recognize can improve scores without changing any financial behavior.

Pairing this habit with a simple budgeting tool can help you stay on top of both spending and repayment in one place.

Final Takeaway

The average credit score in the US is 714 as of Spring 2026 still in the good range, but declining for the second straight year.

Scores rise with age and vary significantly by state. Paying on time and keeping utilization low remain the most effective levers for improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the average credit score in the US in 2026?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 714 as of the Spring 2026 FICO Credit Insights Report. That's down two points from a year earlier the second consecutive annual decline. The figure still falls in the "good" range on the standard 300–850 scale.

What credit score do you need to buy a house in 2026?

Most conventional mortgages still require a minimum score of 620. FHA loans may accept lower.

For the best available interest rates, lenders generally look for 740 or above. A lower score doesn't disqualify you it typically raises your rate.

Does income affect your credit score?

No. Income is not a factor in FICO or VantageScore calculations. What matters is how you manage debt payment history, utilization, and account age regardless of how much you earn.

How often is the national average credit score updated?

FICO releases its Credit Insights report twice a year, with Spring and Fall editions. Experian also publishes annual averages, typically using September data. The 714 figure comes from FICO's Spring 2026 release.

What's the difference between FICO and VantageScore?

Both use a 300–850 scale but apply different weightings to credit factors. FICO is used in over 90% of US lending decisions. VantageScore is common in free monitoring tools. They usually produce similar scores, but not always identical ones.