Average Credit Score in America in 2026: By Age, State, and Score Range

The average credit score in America is 713 as of September 2025, according to Experian data — marking the first annual decline since 2013.

A  separate FICO data release from Spring 2026 places the figure at 714, a one-point difference explained by the timing of each data pull. Both numbers land in the "good" range. Most Americans are still considered acceptable credit risks by lenders. But the direction has shifted.

What Is Considered a Good Credit Score?

Before comparing yourself to the national average, it helps to understand what the numbers actually mean. Credit scores in the U.S. follow a 300–850 scale. Most lenders rely on the FICO model, which breaks scores into five tiers.

FICO Score Ranges and What They Signal to Lenders

FICO Score Range	Rating	What Lenders Generally See
800 – 850	Exceptional	Lowest rates; near-automatic approvals
740 – 799	Very Good	Strong approval odds; competitive rates
670 – 739	Good	Generally approved; standard rates
580 – 669	Fair	Higher rates; some approvals with conditions
300 – 579	Poor	Limited options; secured products likely required

At 713, the national average sits in the "good" tier — but just barely. A borrower at 713 qualifies for most loan products, though they won't receive the best available rates. That distinction matters more than people often realize.

FICO Score vs. VantageScore — What's the Difference?

Both FICO and VantageScore use a 300–850 scale, but they weigh factors differently. FICO places more emphasis on payment history (35%) and amounts owed (30%). VantageScore gives slightly more weight to payment history (40%) while factoring in age and type of credit differently.

FICO scores are used in over 90% of U.S. lending decisions, which is why most credit score reporting — including Experian's national data — focuses on FICO. VantageScore is more commonly used in free credit monitoring tools. This is why you may see a slightly different number when checking your score through a bank app versus a formal loan application.

What Does a 713 Credit Score Actually Get You?

This is the question most articles don't answer. Knowing the national average is useful — but knowing what that number buys you in real terms is more useful.

Mortgage Rates at 713

In practice, a borrower with a 713 FICO score will typically qualify for a conventional mortgage, but not at the best available rate. Lenders generally reserve their lowest mortgage rates for borrowers at 760 or above. The rate difference between a 713 and a 760 score can translate to tens of thousands of dollars over the life of a 30-year loan.

For example, on a $300,000 mortgage, a half-percentage-point rate difference — which is a reasonable gap between "good" and "very good" credit tiers — adds roughly $25,000–$30,000 in total interest over 30 years. The national average being 713 means most American borrowers are paying more than they need to on long-term debt.

Auto Loans and Credit Cards at 713

For auto loans, a 713 score typically qualifies for standard financing through most lenders. Rates are higher than what a 750+ borrower receives but still within the prime lending range. Below 670, auto loan rates jump sharply — often into double digits.

For credit cards, a 713 score provides access to most mid-tier rewards cards. Premium travel cards and ultra-low APR products usually require 740 or above.

How Has the Average American Credit Score Changed Over Time?

A Decade of Improvement — Then a Reversal

From 2013 through 2024, the national average FICO score rose steadily. That trend reflected improving consumer behavior, lower unemployment, and gradually declining debt delinquency rates following the 2008 financial crisis recovery.

2025 ended that streak.

Year	Average FICO Score
2017	700
2018	704
2019	706
2020	711
2021	714
2022	714
2023	715
2024	715
2025	713

Source: Experian annual data

Two points may look small. But the reversal of a decade-long upward trend is worth noting — especially when no state saw its average score increase in 2025.

What Changed in 2025?

A few factors converged. Persistent inflation kept living costs elevated, particularly for housing and transportation. Unemployment ticked upward from historically low levels. The SAVE student loan repayment plan — which had reduced monthly payments for roughly 8 million borrowers — was ended in 2025, pushing payments back up for many Gen Z and millennial borrowers.

As reported by Bloomberg, roughly 29% of federal student loan borrowers were delinquent on their loans by mid-2025 — representing over 5 million people — with many experiencing substantial drops in their credit standing as a result.

What's often overlooked is what didn't cause the decline. Credit utilization stayed flat at 29% for the third consecutive year. Americans didn't suddenly start maxing out their credit cards. The pressure came from income and employment conditions, not from reckless credit behavior.

Average Credit Score by Age in America (2026)

Credit scores and age are closely linked — not because older people are inherently more responsible, but because length of credit history is built over time. A 25-year-old with perfect payment history simply cannot compete with a 60-year-old's credit file on the length dimension.

Generation-by-Generation Breakdown

Generation	Age Range (2025)	2024 Score	2025 Score	Change
Generation Z	18 – 28	681	678	−3 points
Millennials	29 – 44	691	689	−2 points
Generation X	45 – 60	709	709	Unchanged
Baby Boomers	61 – 79	746	747	+1 point
Silent Generation	80+	760	760	Unchanged

Source: Experian, September 2025

Younger generations absorbed most of the 2025 decline. Baby boomers actually improved by one point — and the Silent Generation held steady.

Why Younger Americans Score Lower

Shorter credit history is the biggest factor. Beyond that, Gen Z and millennials are more likely to carry student loan debt, have thinner credit files, and have fewer assets to absorb financial shocks. The end of the SAVE repayment plan hit this group hardest, with monthly student loan payments set to rise for millions of borrowers.

Why Older Americans Score Higher

It's not just about age. Baby boomers typically have lower revolving balances, paid-off or near-paid-off mortgages, and decades of on-time payment history. Their credit mix is broad and established. Interestingly, baby boomers are also less likely to apply for new credit frequently — which keeps hard inquiry counts low.

Average Credit Score by State in America (2026)

Geography plays a measurable role in credit score averages. The gap between the highest and lowest scoring states is 66 points — wider than many people expect.

Highest and Lowest Scoring States

Rank	State	2025 Average FICO Score
Highest	Minnesota	741
	Vermont	737
	Wisconsin	737
	New Hampshire	735
	Washington	734
Lowest	Mississippi	677
	Louisiana	686
	Alabama	689
	Georgia	692
	Texas	692

Source: Experian, September 2025

Why Northern and Southern States Differ

The geographic pattern is consistent year over year — Upper Midwest and New England tend to score higher; Southern states tend to score lower. This reflects a combination of factors: median household income levels, access to credit products, regional unemployment rates, and the concentration of subprime lending in certain markets. These are structural conditions, not individual behavioral differences.

States That Changed the Most in 2025

Louisiana and Washington D.C. saw the sharpest drops — four points each. Illinois, Maine, and Vermont were the only places where average scores remained flat. No state improved.

How American Credit Scores Are Distributed in 2025

The national average of 713 doesn't capture the full picture. At first glance, 713 sounds reassuring — it's in the "good" range. But the distribution underneath that average has shifted.

Where Americans Fall Across Score Ranges

FICO Score Range	Rating	% of Americans (2024)	% of Americans (2025)
800 – 850	Exceptional	22.5%	22.8%
740 – 799	Very Good	27.8%	27.5%
670 – 739	Good	21.0%	20.1%
580 – 669	Fair	15.5%	14.9%
300 – 579	Poor	13.2%	14.7%

Source: Experian, September 2025

The Polarization of American Credit

More Americans are now at the extremes. The share of borrowers in the "exceptional" range hit an all-time high of 22.8%. At the same time, the "poor" range grew from 13.2% to 14.7% — a meaningful jump in one year.

The middle is thinning. Consumers in the fair, good, and very good ranges are migrating in both directions. Some are improving; others are falling back. This divergence reflects broader economic conditions where higher-income households maintained financial stability while others faced increasing pressure from inflation, rising unemployment, and higher debt costs.

Where Do You Fall?

If your score is above 713, you are above the national average. If you're in the 740+ range, you're ahead of roughly 50% of American borrowers. If you're below 670, improving your score has direct, tangible financial benefits — primarily through lower interest rates on any new debt you take on.

Credit Card Utilization Rates in America

Credit utilization — how much of your available credit you're using — is the second most influential factor in your FICO score, accounting for 30% of the calculation.

National Utilization: Stable at 29%

The national average credit utilization rate has held at 29% for three consecutive years. This is notable given the score decline in 2025 — it confirms that credit overuse was not a primary driver of the drop.

Utilization Rate by FICO Score Range

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

Source: Experian, September 2025

The pattern here is consistent and well-documented across credit research. Borrowers with the highest scores keep utilization extremely low — well under 10%. In practice, most financial advisors suggest keeping utilization under 30% as a floor, but the data suggests that borrowers aiming for exceptional scores should target under 10%.

Delinquency Rates by Account Type

Delinquency rates — the percentage of accounts where borrowers have missed payments — are a leading indicator of where average credit scores may head next.

Which Account Types Are Falling Behind

Account Type	2023 Delinquency Rate	2024 Delinquency Rate	2025 Delinquency Rate
Mortgage	1.88%	2.24%	2.45%
Auto Loans	3.51%	3.68%	3.78%
Personal Loans	3.89%	3.86%	3.76%
Credit Cards	2.45%	2.40%	2.31%

Source: Experian, September 2025

Mortgage and auto loan delinquencies are climbing. Credit card and personal loan delinquencies are slightly lower than prior years — a more encouraging sign given those are higher-rate products.

As reported by CNBC, the share of consumers falling more than 90 days behind on payments rose meaningfully in 2025, with elevated interest rates and rising debt loads identified as key contributing factors alongside the resumption of student loan delinquency reporting.

What This Signals for 2026

Delinquency is a lagging indicator. When borrowers miss mortgage or auto payments, the credit score impact follows within 30–90 days of reporting. The upward trend in mortgage and auto delinquencies in 2025 suggests continued downward pressure on average scores in 2026 is plausible — particularly for middle-income borrowers in higher cost-of-living areas.

How to Improve Your Credit Score From the National Average

Reaching or surpassing 713 isn't complicated — but it does require consistency over time. There are no shortcuts that work reliably.

Pay On Time, Every Time (35% of Your Score)

Payment history is the single largest factor in your FICO score. One missed payment can drop a score by 60–100 points depending on your current score level. Setting up autopay for at least the minimum due removes the risk of accidental late payments entirely.

Keep Utilization Below 30% — Aim for Under 10%

The utilization data above tells a clear story. If you want a score above 780, staying under 10% utilization consistently is almost a requirement. Paying balances in full monthly is the most reliable way to achieve this.

Keep Old Accounts Open

Length of credit history makes up 15% of your FICO score. Closing an old credit card — even one you rarely use — shortens your average account age and reduces your total available credit, which can raise your utilization ratio simultaneously.

Limit Hard Inquiries

Each time you apply for new credit, a hard inquiry is recorded. Multiple inquiries in a short period signal financial stress to lenders. Spacing out credit applications and only applying when necessary keeps this factor in check.

Monitor Your Credit Report for Errors

Errors on credit reports are more common than most people assume. Incorrect late payments, accounts that don't belong to you, or outdated negative items can all depress your score. Checking your credit report annually — and disputing inaccuracies — costs nothing and can produce meaningful score improvements.

Conclusion

The average credit score in America sits at 713 in 2025 — still technically "good," but under measurable pressure for the first time in over a decade. Younger Americans and Southern states are feeling the squeeze most. The improvement path is straightforward: pay on time, keep balances low, and give your credit history time to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average credit score in the US in 2025?

The average FICO credit score in the U.S. is 713 as of September 2025, according to Experian data. A separate Spring 2026 FICO release places the figure at 714 due to different data timing. Both fall in the "good" score range.

Is 713 a good credit score?

Yes. A 713 FICO score is in the "good" range (670–739). It qualifies for most loan products but typically does not unlock the lowest available interest rates, which generally require a score of 740 or above.

What age group has the highest average credit score in America?

The Silent Generation (age 80+) holds the highest average at 760. Baby boomers average 747. Both groups benefit from decades of credit history and relatively low revolving balances.

Why did average credit scores drop in 2025?

The primary drivers were inflation, rising unemployment, and the end of the SAVE student loan repayment plan. Credit utilization remained stable — the decline reflected economic pressure, not increased credit card overuse.

What credit score do I need to get the best mortgage rate?

Most lenders reserve their lowest mortgage rates for borrowers at 760 or above. A score between 700 and 739 qualifies for conventional mortgages but at higher rates — a difference that can add thousands of dollars over the loan's life.