The average FICO score in the US is 714, according to data from March 2026. That puts the typical American borrower squarely in the "good" range which runs from 670 to 739. A useful number to know, but it only tells part of the story.
What Is the Average FICO Score Right Now?
The short answer: 714, based on FICO 8 data from March 2026. Experian's most recent September 2025 data puts it at 713 close enough that both sources are pointing to the same plateau.
For context, the average VantageScore 3.0 is 698 as of March 2026. These two numbers often confuse people. They measure similar things, but use different formulas so they rarely match.
What's worth noting is the direction of travel. The national FICO average dropped two points between 2024 and 2025, marking the first annual decline since 2013. It ended a decade-plus streak of steady improvement.
That's not a crisis 714 still reflects a population of generally creditworthy borrowers but, as reported by CNBC, it's a signal that rising delinquencies, economic pressure, and the return of student loan reporting are beginning to show up in credit data.
FICO Score vs. VantageScore Which Average Should You Track?
Two scoring models, one scale but they don't produce the same number.
What Is a FICO Score?
A FICO score is a three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850. It's calculated by Fair Isaac Corporation and is the scoring model most lenders rely on when evaluating credit applications.
FICO Score 8 is the most widely used version for general lending decisions. However, mortgage lenders typically pull FICO versions 2, 4, and 5 from the three major bureaus which can produce slightly different numbers than FICO 8.
How FICO and VantageScore Differ
Both models use the same 300–850 scale, but they weight factors differently.
Here's a side-by-side comparison:
|
Factor |
FICO Weight |
VantageScore Weight |
|
Payment history |
35% |
40% |
|
Amounts owed / credit used |
30% |
20% |
|
Length of credit history |
15% |
21% (age + type combined) |
|
Credit mix |
10% |
— |
|
New credit |
10% |
5% |
|
Available credit |
— |
3% |
|
Total balances/debt |
— |
11% |
Sources: FICO, VantageScore
In practice, FICO scores tend to be the ones lenders pull for mortgages, auto loans, and most credit card applications.
VantageScore shows up more often in free credit monitoring tools. So if you're preparing for a major loan, your FICO score is the number to watch.
Average FICO Score by Age
Scores climb steadily with age here's what the data actually shows.
FICO 8 Averages by Age Group
Credit scores tend to rise with age not because age itself is a scoring factor, but because older borrowers have longer credit histories, more account types, and typically lower credit utilization. The data reflects that pattern clearly.
|
Age Group |
Average FICO 8 Score (January 2026) |
|
18–29 |
676 |
|
30–39 |
686 |
|
40–49 |
702 |
|
50–59 |
718 |
|
60+ |
752 |
Source: FICO, January 2026
VantageScore 3.0 Averages by Generation
|
Generation |
Age Range |
Average VantageScore 3.0 (February 2026) |
|
Gen Z |
Born 1997+ |
668 |
|
Millennials |
Born 1981–1996 |
679 |
|
Gen X |
Born 1965–1980 |
702 |
|
Baby Boomers |
Born 1946–1964 |
743 |
|
Silent Generation |
Born 1928–1945 |
750 |
Source: VantageScore, February 2026
Why Scores Rise With Age
Length of credit history accounts for 15% of a FICO score. The longer an account has been open and in good standing, the better that factor performs.
Younger adults often have what's called a "thin credit file" fewer accounts, less variety, and a shorter track record. Scoring models reward breadth and consistency, both of which take time to build.
What's often overlooked is that age creates no direct advantage. A 22-year-old with three years of on-time payments and low utilization can outscore a 45-year-old who's missed payments or carries high balances.
The age correlation is real, but it's circumstantial not automatic.The 2025 data showed Gen Z's average FICO score dropped three points and Millennials' fell two points. Meanwhile, Baby Boomers gained one point to 747.
According to Fortune's analysis of FICO data, Gen Z experienced the steepest annual drop of any age group since 2020, largely tied to student loan delinquency reporting resuming after the pandemic pause.
Younger generations are more likely to carry student debt, face tighter job markets, and have fewer financial reserves all of which translate to more credit stress.
Understanding net worth and personal financial positioning can provide useful context for where credit health fits into the broader picture.
Average FICO Score by State (2025)
Nearly every state declined but the long-term picture is still positive.
State-by-State Data
|
State |
2024 Avg |
2025 Avg |
Change |
|
Alabama |
692 |
689 |
–3 |
|
Alaska |
722 |
720 |
–2 |
|
Arizona |
712 |
709 |
–3 |
|
Arkansas |
695 |
693 |
–2 |
|
California |
722 |
721 |
–1 |
|
Colorado |
731 |
729 |
–2 |
|
Connecticut |
726 |
724 |
–2 |
|
Delaware |
714 |
713 |
–1 |
|
District of Columbia |
715 |
711 |
–4 |
|
Florida |
707 |
704 |
–3 |
|
Georgia |
695 |
692 |
–3 |
|
Hawaii |
732 |
730 |
–2 |
|
Idaho |
730 |
729 |
–1 |
|
Illinois |
720 |
720 |
0 |
|
Indiana |
712 |
710 |
–2 |
|
Iowa |
730 |
728 |
–2 |
|
Kansas |
722 |
720 |
–2 |
|
Kentucky |
705 |
704 |
–1 |
|
Louisiana |
690 |
686 |
–4 |
|
Maine |
731 |
731 |
0 |
|
Maryland |
715 |
714 |
–1 |
|
Massachusetts |
732 |
731 |
–1 |
|
Michigan |
719 |
717 |
–2 |
|
Minnesota |
742 |
741 |
–1 |
|
Mississippi |
680 |
677 |
–3 |
|
Missouri |
714 |
712 |
–2 |
|
Montana |
732 |
730 |
–2 |
|
Nebraska |
731 |
728 |
–3 |
|
Nevada |
701 |
699 |
–2 |
|
New Hampshire |
736 |
735 |
–1 |
|
New Jersey |
724 |
722 |
–2 |
|
New Mexico |
702 |
701 |
–1 |
|
New York |
721 |
719 |
–2 |
|
North Carolina |
709 |
707 |
–2 |
|
North Dakota |
733 |
730 |
–3 |
|
Ohio |
716 |
713 |
–3 |
|
Oklahoma |
696 |
693 |
–3 |
|
Oregon |
732 |
730 |
–2 |
|
Pennsylvania |
722 |
720 |
–2 |
|
Rhode Island |
721 |
719 |
–2 |
|
South Carolina |
700 |
699 |
–1 |
|
South Dakota |
734 |
731 |
–3 |
|
Tennessee |
706 |
703 |
–3 |
|
Texas |
695 |
692 |
–3 |
|
Utah |
730 |
728 |
–2 |
|
Vermont |
737 |
737 |
0 |
|
Virginia |
723 |
721 |
–2 |
|
Washington |
735 |
734 |
–1 |
|
West Virginia |
702 |
699 |
–3 |
|
Wisconsin |
738 |
737 |
–1 |
|
Wyoming |
725 |
722 |
–3 |
Source: Experian, September 2025
Key Observations
Minnesota holds the highest average at 741, followed by Wisconsin and Vermont at 737. Mississippi sits lowest at 677, with Louisiana (686) and Alabama (689) also in the bottom tier.
Louisiana and Washington D.C. saw the steepest single-year drops four points each.
No state improved. Three held steady. Every other state declined.
That uniformity is telling whatever is pulling scores down appears to be cutting across state lines rather than reflecting local conditions alone.
The longer view is more reassuring. In almost every state, the 2025 average is still higher than it was in 2020. The recent dip is real, but it interrupts a multi-year upward trend rather than reversing it entirely.
How US Consumers Are Distributed Across Score Ranges
Most Americans sit in the good-to-exceptional range but the extremes are growing.
Score Range Breakdown
|
FICO Score Range |
Rating |
% of Consumers (2024) |
% of Consumers (2025) |
|
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% |
Source: Experian, September 2025
About 70% of Americans hold a good or better score. That's the headline figure, and it's been broadly stable.
But look at the movement between ranges and a different picture emerges more consumers slipping into the poor category while, at the same time, the share with exceptional scores reached an all-time high of 22.8%.
Both extremes grew. The middle thinned slightly. Whether that reflects broader economic divergence or just normal movement between tiers is hard to say definitively but it's worth watching.
What the Average FICO Score Means for Borrowing
A 714 opens most doors but 740 and above is where rates genuinely improve.
Credit Products and Score Thresholds
A score of 714 falls in the good range. In practice, that typically means:
- Mortgages: Most conventional loans require a minimum of 620. A score of 714 generally qualifies, though borrowers in the very good (740+) range tend to receive better rates.
- Auto loans: Lenders vary widely, but good-range scores generally access standard financing. Rates improve meaningfully above 740.
- Credit cards: Most mid-tier and rewards cards are accessible. Premium travel cards often target very good to exceptional scores.
One thing people miss: lenders don't all use FICO Score 8. Mortgage lenders pull FICO versions 2, 4, and 5 from the three bureaus, and auto lenders often use FICO Auto Scores. Your FICO 8 is a reliable general indicator, but the number a specific lender sees may differ.
How Score Range Affects What You Pay
The connection between credit score and interest rate is straightforward higher scores mean lower risk to lenders, which translates to lower rates.
The gap between a good score and a very good score can mean a meaningfully different monthly payment on a mortgage or auto loan over the life of the debt.
Exact rate differences vary by lender, loan type, and market conditions, so no single figure applies universally. But the directional relationship is consistent.
Also Read: How Did Adrian Portelli Make His Money
The Five Factors That Determine Your FICO Score
|
Factor |
Weight |
What It Measures |
|
Payment history |
35% |
Whether you pay on time, every time |
|
Amounts owed |
30% |
How much of your available credit you're using |
|
Length of credit history |
15% |
How long your accounts have been open |
|
Credit mix |
10% |
Variety of account types (cards, loans, mortgage) |
|
New credit |
10% |
Recent applications and hard inquiries |
Credit Utilization The Most Actionable Factor
Of the five factors, credit utilization is the one you can change fastest. The national average sits at 29% and has held there for three consecutive years. That's close to the commonly cited 30% threshold. Go above it and scores start to feel the drag.
Here's what the utilization data actually looks like by score range:
|
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% |
Source: Experian, September 2025
The pattern is stark. Borrowers with exceptional scores aren't just staying under 30% they're staying well under it.
In practice, many credit professionals observe that keeping utilization below 10% across all cards consistently shows up as a characteristic of high scorers, not just a coincidence.
How to Improve Your FICO Score
The five factors are fixed but how fast you move on each one is up to you.
Payment History (Highest Impact)
A single missed payment can drag a score down noticeably and it stays on your credit report for seven years. The fix isn't complicated: set up autopay for at least the minimum due on every account. On-time streaks rebuild history steadily.
A rough patch followed by 12–24 months of clean payments does make a real difference. Many people find that building better management habits around personal finances is what makes the difference between sporadic improvement and lasting score gains.
Credit Utilization (Second Highest Impact)
Don't wait for your statement date to pay down balances. Making a mid-cycle payment reduces the balance that gets reported to the bureaus, which lowers your reported utilization.
Asking for a credit limit increase is another option though be aware that some issuers run a hard inquiry to process the request, which creates a small, temporary score dip.
Credit History Length (Medium Impact)
Keep old accounts open, even if you rarely use them. A card you've had for a decade adds to your average account age.
Closing it removes that history from your active profile. If an old card carries an annual fee you don't want to pay, ask the issuer about a product change to a no-fee version instead of closing it.
Credit Mix and New Credit (Lower Impact)
These two factors together account for 20% of your score. That's real, but not worth chasing. Don't open a loan just to diversify your credit mix the math rarely works in your favor.
If you do need to apply for new credit, space applications at least six months apart to limit the cumulative effect of hard inquiries.
Realistic Improvement Timelines
Most people want to know how long improvement actually takes. Here's a reasonable framework based on commonly reported patterns.
Those who treat credit improvement as part of a broader workplace and personal financial management routine tend to see more consistent results than those who address it reactively:
- 30 days: Paying down a high-balance card can improve utilization and show up in the next score update.
- 3–6 months: Consistent on-time payments begin building a visible positive streak.
- 12–24 months: Meaningful score recovery after a missed payment or high-utilization period.
- 2+ years: Moving from poor to good credit range, assuming no new negative marks.
Conclusion
The average FICO score in the US sits at 714 good range, slightly declining, but still reflecting a broadly creditworthy population.
Scores vary significantly by age, state, and income pressure. The factors driving your personal score are measurable and, with consistent habits, improvable over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 714 a good FICO score?
Yes. A score of 714 falls in the "good" range (670–739) and qualifies for most standard loan products. Scores above 740 generally unlock better interest rates.
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own score is a soft inquiry and has no impact on your FICO score. Only hard inquiries from lender applications can cause a small, temporary dip.
Which FICO score do mortgage lenders use?
Mortgage lenders typically use FICO versions 2, 4, and 5 from Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian respectively not FICO Score 8. These may differ from the score shown in most consumer tools.
Why is my VantageScore different from my FICO score?
They use different formulas and weight factors differently. VantageScore places more emphasis on payment history (40%) while FICO weights amounts owed more heavily (30%). Both use the same 300–850 scale.
How often is the national average FICO score updated?
Experian typically publishes its national average data annually, based on September snapshots. FICO and VantageScore release updates periodically throughout the year.
