The average credit score by age, state, and year

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• The average credit score in the US is a 714 FICO score and 701 VantageScore, considered a "good" credit score.
• Gen Z (18-25) has the lowest average credit score at 679, while the Silent Generation (77+) has the highest at 760.
• Minnesota had the highest average credit score at 742, while Mississippi had the lowest average at 680.

The average credit score in the US is a 714, based on FICO data provided by credit reporting company Experian. The average VantageScore is 701. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850. The higher your score, the better.

People with higher credit scores tend to qualify for better interest rates on borrowed money, have access to the best credit cards, and can even pay less for insurance. You'll also have an easier time applying for an apartment rental. You can subscribe to a credit monitoring service to help you keep track of your credit score and your credit reports. The best credit monitoring services are even free.

The FICO model of credit scoring puts credit scores into six categories:

• Very poor: 300-579
• Poor: 580-669
• Fair: 601-660
• Good: 670-739
• Very good: 740-799
• Exceptional: 800-850

Based on this scoring system, the average American has a good credit score. But, the average credit score varies by location and age.

Average credit score by age

The average credit score looks very different between age groups. As credit scores are calculated on credit and borrowing history, older people have higher credit scores on average due to a more extensive borrowing history. Meanwhile Gen Z lags behind because they've had less time to build credit, and many members of Gen Z simply aren't old enough to have a credit score. Here's how it breaks down by age group, according to data from Experian:

Average credit score by state

Finances look very different across all 50 states, and the average credit score looks pretty different, too. While Mississippi has the lowest average credit score at 680, Minnesota has the highest credit score at 742. Here's the average credit score in each US state and the District of Columbia as of 2022, according to data from Experian.

Average credit score by year

Americans have more consumer debt than ever before, holding a total of $17.05 trillion in debt in the first quarter of 2023. Despite historic levels of debt, the average credit score continues to rise. Americans actually have better credit than ever.

The average score has increased by about 10 points in the past seven years. Here's how it's risen, according to FICO data from October of each year:

The period spanning from June 2009 until early 2020 became America's longest-running period of economic expansion, which ended due to the brief, pandemic-induced recession. This extended period of growth yielded low unemployment rates. This could have contributed to America's rising credit scores, with more people possessing the means to pay back debt on time. 

Credit scores have also risen, in part, due to the amount of information available on the credit industry and how to raise your credit score. There is also an abundance of credit-builder products available that widen accessibility, boosting the average credit score over time. The best credit builder accounts don't require a credit check or a credit score. Some credit builder products come straight from the credit bureaus themselves, such as Experian Boost, which reports regular payments like utility bills and streaming service subscription fees.

How are credit scores used?

Credit scores are calculated using information about your borrowing, like your credit utilization ratio, the number and types of accounts you have open, and your repayment history. All of that information is drawn from your credit report, which has a detailed borrowing history.

Everyone has credit scores based on data gathered by the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. There are two main credit scoring algorithms, known as FICO and VantageScore. While each one uses a slightly different calculation, your scores should generally be within a similar range.

Keeping track of these scores is crucial if you want to build credit. You should never be paying to view your credit score. You can usually access your scores for free through your lender or financial institution. You can also access your credit score free online from sites like Credit Karma. 

It's a good idea to check your credit report regularly, too. You can get three free credit reports per year, one from each credit bureau, which you can access through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can check them all at once or ration your credit reports throughout the year. It's not uncommon for a report to contain an error affecting your score, but it's up to you to find any such error. If you do find one, you can dispute it with the agency.

How to improve your credit score

Your credit scores play a big role in your financial freedom. It figures into everything from qualifying for a mortgage or credit card to the rate you pay on your auto insurance. Bad credit can make your life difficult. But there are always things you can do to improve your credit score, including:

• Making all your loan, credit card, and other monthly payments on time is essential
• Pay off debts and bring past due accounts current
• Pay your credit card balances in full each month
• Avoid applying for new credit unless you really need it
• Keep unused credit accounts open

If you don't have any credit history, it becomes challenging to borrow, making it hard to build a credit history. That's why some credit card issuers provide specific credit cards for people to use temporarily to build their credit from scratch, such as secured credit cards. You can also see our picks for the best starter credit cards here.

Average credit score frequently asked questions