In 2023, the average credit score in the US, determined by the FICO scoring model, stood at 715, which is classified as ‘good’ by FICO[1] Trusted source
Experian
Experian is a consumer credit reporting company that collects and aggregates information on 235 million individual U.S. consumers and more than 25 million U.S. businesses.
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Intrigued by demographic trends, we delved into data to examine how average credit scores vary across age, race, and state.

Credit Score Distribution

FICO® Scores range from 300 to 850 and they are grouped into six categories:

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

Most Americans’ credit scores fall into the ‘Good’ and ‘Very Good’ categories. Over 49% of Americans have a credit score of 750 or higher, while only around 12% have a credit score below 600[2] Trusted source
FICO
FICO originally Fair, Isaac and Company, is a data analytics company focused on credit scoring services.
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FICO® score distribution in the US

Credit Scores By Year

The average American credit score has been on the rise over the past decade, with the biggest increase happening from 2019 to 2021. In this three-year period, the average credit score increased by 12 points. Despite the pandemic, most Americans have managed to keep their credit scores in good standing. Federal relief programs, like stimulus checks and student loan payment freeze, have played a key role as well.

YearAvg. Credit Score
2023715
2022714
2021714
2020710
2019702
2018701
2017699
2016699
2015695
2014693
2013691
2012693
2011689

Credit Scores By Age

Data from Experian, one of the three major credit reporting agencies, shows that average credit scores tend to increase with age. This is not surprising since older people have greater incomes, more credit history, and far more experience in managing credit.

Here’s a summary of the conclusions drawn from the data:

  • Generation Z (18-24) has the lowest average credit score of 680, indicating that younger individuals are typically still building their credit histories.
  • Millennials (25-40) show a slight improvement in their average credit score at 690, as they gain more experience managing credit and establishing a longer credit history.
  • Generation X (41-56) has an average credit score of 709, reflecting a stronger credit profile due to long credit histories and better credit management as they age.
  • Baby boomers (57-75) display a higher average credit score of 745, suggesting that they have well-established credit histories and have demonstrated responsible credit behavior over time.
  • The Silent Generation (76+) has the highest average credit score of 760, indicating that older individuals have the most experience managing credit and have maintained a good credit standing throughout their lives.
AgeAverage Credit Score
Generation Z (18-24)680
Millennials (25-40)690
Generation X (41-56)709
Baby boomers (57-75)745
Silent Generation (76+)760

Credit Scores By Race

In 2021, the highest average score was recorded by White communities with 727, followed by Hispanic communities with 667, and Black communities with 627.

Native American communities recorded the lowest average score with a 612 average.

RaceAverage Credit Score
White727
Hispanic667
Black627
Native American612

Average Credit Score By State

The state with the highest average credit score is Minnesota (742).

The state with the lowest credit score is Mississippi (680).

Although the credit scores have been rising in all states, that rise has been slowest in the Southern states. Midwestern states on the other hand have maintained the highest scores.

StateAverage Credit Score
Alabama692
Alaska722
Arizona713
Arkansas696
California722
Colorado731
Connecticut726
Delaware715
District of Columbia715
Florida708
Georgia695
Hawaii732
Idaho729
Illinois720
Indiana713
Iowa730
Kansas723
Kentucky705
Louisiana690
Maine731
Maryland716
Massachusetts732
Michigan719
Minnesota742
Mississippi680
Missouri714
Montana732
Nebraska731
Nevada702
New Hampshire736
New Jersey725
New Mexico702
New York721
North Carolina709
North Dakota733
Ohio716
Oklahoma696
Oregon732
Pennsylvania723
Rhode Island722
South Carolina699
South Dakota734
Tennessee705
Texas695
Utah731
Vermont737
Virginia722
Washington735
West Virginia703
Wisconsin737
Wyoming724

American credit scores have held up even under stress from inflation and a generally declining economy. There are still some signs of stress.

Recent data from FICO indicate that average credit utilization is up from 29.6% to 31%, indicating higher balances. Young people in particular seem to be under stress. from 2010 to 2021, 33% of 18-to-29-year-olds in majority Black communities, 26% in majority Hispanic communities, and 21% in majority white communities saw their credit scores decline.

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