What Is Average Credit Score in America (2026): Full Data Breakdown by State, Age, and Score Range

The average credit score in America was 713 in 2025, according to Experian's September 2025 data — down two points from the prior year and the first annual decline since 2013. It still sits in the "Good" range (670–739), meaning most Americans remain considered acceptable borrowers by lenders.

Quick Answer: What Is the Average Credit Score Right Now?

The national average FICO Score was 713 as of September 2025 (Experian). FICO's own Spring 2026 Credit Insights report puts it at 714 — a one-point difference explained by different data sampling windows and timing, not a contradiction. Either way, the direction is the same: scores dipped slightly across the board.

This is worth understanding before reading further. Both figures are accurate. They just measure slightly different moments in the same year.

National Average FICO Score Trend (2020–2025)

Year	Average FICO Score
2020	710
2021	714
2022	716
2023	715
2024	715
2025	713

Source: Experian annual data, September of each year

Scores climbed steadily for over a decade before this dip. That context matters — a two-point drop is not alarming on its own, but it does mark the end of a long upward streak.

What Is a FICO Score — and Why Does It Matter?

A FICO Score is a three-digit number ranging from 300 to 850 that lenders use to assess how likely you are to repay a loan. It is not the only credit scoring model out there, but it is the one that actually drives most lending decisions.

As reported by CNBC Select, FICO Scores are used in over 90% of U.S. lending decisions, making them the number worth knowing before applying for any financial product.

VantageScore is the other widely known model. It uses the same 300–850 scale but weighs factors differently and applies different thresholds for what counts as "good" or "fair." In practice, most major mortgage lenders, auto lenders, and credit card issuers pull FICO — so that is the score this article focuses on.

FICO Score vs. VantageScore — Key Differences

Factor	FICO Score Weight	VantageScore Weight
Payment history	35%	40%
Amounts owed / utilization	30%	20%
Length of credit history	15%	21% (age + type)
Credit mix	10%	Included in age/type
New credit	10%	5%
Available credit	Not separate	3%
Total balances/debt	Not separate	11%

Sources: FICO, VantageScore Solutions

The practical difference? VantageScore places more emphasis on payment history and less on utilization than FICO does. If your payment record is spotless but your balances are high, you might score better under VantageScore. For most real-world lending scenarios, though, FICO is what the lender will see.

FICO Score Ranges and What Each Means

FICO Score Range	Rating	What It Generally Means
800–850	Exceptional	Best rates; highest approval odds
740–799	Very Good	Competitive rates on most products
670–739	Good	Approved for most products; rates vary
580–669	Fair	Limited options; higher rates likely
300–579	Poor	Difficulty qualifying; secured products typical

A 713 national average puts the country squarely in "Good" territory — eligible for mainstream credit products, but not automatically in line for the lowest rates available.

What Your Credit Score Actually Costs (or Saves) You

This is the part most articles skip, and it is arguably the most useful thing to understand. The difference between a "Good" score and a "Very Good" score is not just a label. It shows up in your monthly payment.

Take a $300,000 30-year fixed mortgage. Borrowers with scores in the 760–850 range typically qualify for rates roughly 0.5% to 1.5% lower than borrowers in the 620–639 range. Over 30 years, that gap can translate to tens of thousands of dollars in total interest paid. The numbers shift constantly with market rates, but the pattern holds: higher score, lower rate, lower cost.

Auto loans follow the same logic. On a $30,000 five-year loan, the rate difference between a "Good" and "Poor" credit score can mean hundreds of dollars in extra interest annually.

Estimated Interest Rate Ranges by FICO Score Category

FICO Score Range	Approx. Mortgage APR Range	Approx. Auto Loan APR Range
760–850	Lower end of market rates	Lowest available rates
700–759	Slightly above best rates	Competitive rates
660–699	Moderate rates	Above-average rates
620–659	Higher rates; fewer options	Noticeably higher rates
580–619	Subprime territory	High rates; limited lenders
300–579	Very limited options	Often requires special lenders

Note: Actual rates vary by lender, loan type, term length, and market conditions. These ranges are illustrative based on publicly reported rate patterns — not guaranteed figures.

In practice, even moving from 700 to 740 can shift which lenders compete for your business — and that competition tends to push rates down. It is not just a number. It is a negotiating position.

How Americans Are Spread Across Credit Score Ranges

Here is something worth noting: while the average score dipped, the distribution of scores actually became more polarized in 2025. More people moved into the "Poor" category — and more people reached "Exceptional." The middle thinned out.

Percentage of U.S. Consumers by FICO Score Range (2024 vs. 2025)

FICO Score Range	Rating	2024	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

That 70% of Americans hold a "Good" or better score is the headline figure. But the growth at both extremes — more people in "Exceptional" and more in "Poor" — suggests the financial picture is not uniform. Some households are in genuinely strong shape. Others are under real strain.

Average Credit Score in America by State (2025)

Where you live does not determine your credit score, but regional patterns are consistent year after year. Upper Midwest and New England states tend to cluster at the top. Southern states tend to cluster at the bottom. The spread between the highest and lowest state averages was 65 points in 2025 — a substantial gap.

States with the Highest and Lowest Average FICO Scores

Highest:

• Minnesota: 741
• Vermont: 737
• Wisconsin: 737
• New Hampshire: 735
• Washington: 734

Lowest:

• Mississippi: 677
• Louisiana: 686
• Alabama: 689
• Georgia: 692
• Texas: 692

Full State-by-State Average FICO Score Table (2024 vs. 2025)

State	2024	2025	Change
Alaska	722	720	−2
Alabama	692	689	−3
Arkansas	695	693	−2
Arizona	712	709	−3
California	722	721	−1
Colorado	731	729	−2
Connecticut	726	724	−2
Washington D.C.	715	711	−4
Delaware	714	713	−1
Florida	707	704	−3
Georgia	695	692	−3
Hawaii	732	730	−2
Iowa	730	728	−2
Idaho	730	729	−1
Illinois	720	720	0
Indiana	712	710	−2
Kansas	722	720	−2
Kentucky	705	704	−1
Louisiana	690	686	−4
Massachusetts	732	731	−1
Maryland	715	714	−1
Maine	731	731	0
Michigan	719	717	−2
Minnesota	742	741	−1
Missouri	714	712	−2
Mississippi	680	677	−3
Montana	732	730	−2
North Carolina	709	707	−2
North Dakota	733	730	−3
Nebraska	731	728	−3
New Hampshire	736	735	−1
New Jersey	724	722	−2
New Mexico	702	701	−1
Nevada	701	699	−2
New York	721	719	−2
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
Virginia	723	721	−2
Vermont	737	737	0
Washington	735	734	−1
Wisconsin	738	737	−1
West Virginia	702	699	−3
Wyoming	725	722	−3

Source: Experian, September of each year

No state saw its average rise in 2025. Three states held steady (Illinois, Maine, Vermont). Every other state declined.

Why Do Credit Scores Differ So Much by Region?

The North-South divide in credit scores is not random. It tracks closely with several economic variables that affect credit behavior over time: median household income, cost of living relative to wages, homeownership rates, unemployment levels, and student debt concentration.

States with higher median incomes and lower unemployment tend to have populations who carry lower debt-to-income ratios, maintain lower credit utilization, and miss fewer payments — all of which push FICO scores upward. States where wages are lower relative to essential expenses tend to see more delinquencies and higher utilization, which pulls scores down.

It is not a moral judgment on any region. It is a financial pressure question. When more income goes to necessities, less is available for timely debt repayment.

Average Credit Score by Age Group (2026)

Credit scores and age have a well-documented relationship. Older borrowers typically have longer credit histories, more account types, and more paid-off installment loans — all of which FICO rewards. Younger borrowers are building from scratch, often with thinner files and fewer account types.

Average FICO Score by Generation (2024 vs. 2025)

Generation	Age Range (2025)	2024 Score	2025 Score	Change
Generation Z	18–28	681	678	−3
Millennials	29–44	691	689	−2
Generation X	45–60	709	709	0
Baby Boomers	61–79	746	747	+1
Silent Generation	80+	760	760	0

Source: Experian, September 2025

Gen Z took the sharpest hit — down three points. Millennials dropped two. According to Fortune, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York projected that more than 9 million student loan borrowers would face significant drops in their credit scores as delinquencies began appearing on credit reports in 2025 — disproportionately affecting younger borrowers who carry the heaviest student debt loads.

Baby Boomers, meanwhile, improved by one point. Typical profile: lower or paid-off mortgages, fewer large recurring debts, more stable income. Their credit files are thick, their utilization tends to be low, and payment history is long.

What is often overlooked is that Gen Z and Millennials also have fewer financial buffers — less home equity, smaller savings — so when income pressure hits, credit is one of the first things to show the strain.

Why Did Average Credit Scores Drop in 2025?

A few things converged. No single cause explains the dip cleanly, but the pattern is consistent across multiple data sources.

Student loan changes: The SAVE income-based repayment plan ended in 2025, meaning interest began accruing again on millions of accounts. Monthly payments increased for many borrowers who had been on more generous terms.

Sustained inflation: Shelter and transportation costs remained elevated throughout 2025. When a larger share of income goes to fixed expenses, discretionary cash flow shrinks — and so does the cushion for debt repayment.

Rising delinquencies: Mortgage and auto loan delinquency rates both climbed from their 2024 levels, though from historically low starting points.

Tighter credit access: The New York Fed reported record-high rejection rates for new mortgages, refinances, and auto loans in 2025. When consumers apply more and get rejected more, hard inquiries accumulate without the credit-building benefit of a new account.

Delinquency Rates by Account Type (2023–2025)

Account Type	2023	2024	2025
Credit card	2.45%	2.40%	2.31%
Mortgage	1.88%	2.24%	2.45%
Auto loans	3.51%	3.68%	3.78%
Personal loans (unsecured)	3.89%	3.86%	3.76%

Source: Experian, September of each year

Credit card delinquencies actually declined slightly — an interesting counterpoint. One explanation: consumers are prioritizing minimum credit card payments while falling behind on secured debt like mortgages and auto loans, where the consequences of default are more severe.

The Five Factors That Determine Your FICO Score

FICO Score Components and Their Weightings

Factor	Weight	What It Reflects
Payment history	35%	On-time vs. late payments
Amounts owed (utilization)	30%	Balances vs. credit limits
Length of credit history	15%	Age of oldest, newest, average accounts
Credit mix	10%	Variety of account types
New credit	10%	Recent applications and new accounts

Payment history carries the most weight — by a meaningful margin. One missed payment can leave a mark that takes months to fade. That is not hyperbole; it is how the model is built.

Utilization is second. Most financial guidance suggests keeping it below 30%. In practice, consumers with the highest scores tend to stay under 10%.

Average Credit Utilization Rate in America

Year	National Average Utilization
2023	29%
2024	29%
2025	29%

Source: Experian, September of each year

Average Utilization by FICO Score Range (2025)

FICO Score Range	Average 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 correlation is stark. Lower scores, higher utilization — consistently. The national average of 29% sits right at the commonly cited threshold where utilization starts affecting scores more noticeably. Not a coincidence that average scores are holding at "Good" rather than "Very Good."

How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Credit Score?

Realistic timelines vary significantly depending on where you are starting and what is dragging your score down. There is no universal answer — but some general patterns hold.

Estimated Credit Score Improvement Timelines by Scenario

Scenario	Estimated Time to See Impact
Reducing credit utilization from 50% to under 30%	1–2 billing cycles
On-time payment streak after a missed payment	3–6 months for partial recovery
Full recovery from a single missed payment	12–18 months
Rebuilding after a collection account	2–4 years
Recovery from bankruptcy (Chapter 7)	7–10 years (stays on report)
Building score from thin/no credit file	6–12 months for initial score

These are general estimates based on widely reported credit recovery patterns — individual results vary based on overall credit profile.

The fastest improvement typically comes from reducing utilization — it can reflect in your score within a month or two of the change showing up on your report. Payment history improvements take longer because positive history needs time to accumulate and negative marks need time to age.

How to Improve Your Credit Score — What Actually Works

No shortcuts here. The factors that move FICO scores are well-documented, and the most effective strategies are also the least exciting.

Pay on time, every time. Payment history accounts for 35% of your score. A single late payment — especially on a mortgage or credit card — can drop a good score noticeably.

Setting up autopay for at least the minimum payment eliminates most of the risk.

Keep utilization low. If your combined credit card balances are close to your limits, that is dragging your score. Paying down balances or requesting a credit limit increase (without increasing spending) both help. Aim for under 30%; under 10% if you are optimizing.

Do not close old accounts. Closing a card you no longer use sounds tidy, but it reduces your available credit and can shorten your average account age — both of which can hurt your score. Leave them open unless there is a fee you cannot justify.

Limit hard inquiries. Every credit application generates a hard inquiry. Multiple applications in a short window look risky to lenders. Rate shopping for mortgages or auto loans within a 14–45 day window is generally treated as a single inquiry by FICO — but credit card applications do not get that grace.

Check your credit report for errors. Errors happen. A payment incorrectly marked late, a balance that was not updated, an account that is not yours — any of these can suppress your score. You are entitled to a free report from each bureau annually at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Conclusion

The average credit score in America sits at 713 — still "Good," still within range for most mainstream credit products, but declining for the first time in over a decade. Younger Americans and lower-income households are feeling the most pressure. If your score is near or above the national average, you are in reasonable standing. If it is below, the path forward is slow but well-defined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 713 a good credit score?

Yes. A 713 FICO Score falls in the "Good" range (670–739), which qualifies for most mainstream credit products. It will not get you the lowest rates available, but it will not lock you out of borrowing either.

What credit score do most Americans have?

About 70% of Americans have a FICO Score of 670 or higher — "Good" or better. The largest single segment, roughly 27.5%, falls in the "Very Good" range (740–799).

Why did average credit scores drop in 2025?

The main contributing factors were resumed student loan payments, sustained inflation on essential expenses, rising mortgage and auto delinquency rates, and higher credit application rejection rates — all applying pressure simultaneously.

Does your credit score increase with age?

Generally, yes. Older consumers have longer credit histories, more account types, and more paid-off loans — all of which FICO rewards. Baby Boomers average 747; Gen Z averages 678.

How long does it take to raise your credit score?

It depends on the issue. Reducing high utilization can show results in one to two billing cycles. Recovering from a missed payment typically takes 12–18 months. Bankruptcy can stay on a credit report for up to 10 years.