The average credit score in the United States is 715, based on FICO data from February 2025. That places the typical American squarely in the “good” credit range (670 to 739 on the FICO scale), though scores vary significantly by age and geography. Experian’s year-end review noted the national average dipped slightly to 713 by the end of 2025, a small decline from record highs driven by rising costs and economic uncertainty.
What “Average” Looks Like in Practice
FICO scores run from 300 to 850, and lenders generally group them into tiers: poor (300 to 579), fair (580 to 669), good (670 to 739), very good (740 to 799), and exceptional (800 to 850). A score of 713 to 715 sits in the upper half of the “good” range. That’s high enough to qualify for most credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages, though you won’t get the very best interest rates lenders reserve for borrowers in the “very good” and “exceptional” tiers.
FICO models are used in roughly 90% of U.S. lending decisions. VantageScore, the other major scoring model, uses the same 300-to-850 range but weighs factors slightly differently. The two models typically produce scores within a few points of each other for most consumers, so the national averages track closely.
Average Scores by Generation
Credit scores rise with age, largely because older consumers have longer credit histories and more established payment track records. VantageScore 3.0 data from early 2026 shows a clear staircase pattern across generations:
- Gen Z (born 1997 and later): 668
- Millennials (1981 to 1996): 679
- Gen X (1965 to 1980): 702
- Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964): 743
- Silent Generation (1928 to 1945): 750
The gap between the youngest and oldest groups is 82 points. If you’re in your twenties with a score in the upper 600s, you’re right at the generational average. A big reason younger borrowers score lower is simply time: the length of your credit history accounts for a meaningful chunk of your score, and there’s no shortcut for that. Payment history, which matters even more, also tends to improve as people settle into predictable income and spending patterns.
How Scores Vary by State
Geography matters more than you might expect. Based on 2024 Experian data, the highest average FICO score by state is 742, while the lowest is 680. That 62-point spread is enough to push someone from “good” into “very good” territory or, at the low end, from “good” down toward the boundary of “fair.” Scores tend to be higher in the Upper Midwest and New England and lower across parts of the South and Southwest. Local economic conditions, cost of living, and median incomes all play a role in these regional patterns.
Why the Average Recently Dipped
The national average FICO score hit a record high of 715 in 2023 and held there into early 2025 before slipping to 713 by year’s end. The decline is modest, just two points, but it reversed a steady upward trend that had been running for years. Experian pointed to several factors: persistent inflation that raised the cost of everyday purchases, elevated interest rates that made carrying debt more expensive, and broader economic uncertainty that weighed on consumer finances. When more people miss payments or carry higher credit card balances relative to their limits, the national average nudges downward.
What Your Score Means for Borrowing Costs
The practical impact of a credit score shows up most clearly in interest rates. Using mortgage rate data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (reflecting April 2025 offers), a borrower with a 700 score could see rates ranging from about 5.875% to 8.125%. A borrower with a 625 score, shopping for the same type of loan, faced offers from 6.125% to 8.875%.
That difference may look small in percentage terms, but it compounds over the life of a loan. On a $300,000, 30-year mortgage, even a quarter-point rate difference translates to roughly $50 more per month, or about $18,000 over the full loan term. The pattern holds for auto loans and credit cards too: every tier you move up on the credit score ladder typically unlocks lower rates and better terms.
How Your Score Is Calculated
Five factors drive your FICO score, each carrying a different weight. Payment history is the single biggest factor, accounting for about 35% of your score. Paying every bill on time, even minimums, is the most reliable way to build and protect your credit. Amounts owed relative to your available credit (often called credit utilization) makes up about 30%. Keeping your balances below 30% of your total credit limits helps, and below 10% is even better. Length of credit history contributes around 15%, which is why closing your oldest credit card can actually hurt your score. The remaining 20% is split between your credit mix (having a variety of account types like a credit card and an installment loan) and new credit inquiries (applying for several accounts in a short period can ding your score temporarily).
If your score is below the national average and you want to move it up, the highest-impact moves are making on-time payments consistently and paying down credit card balances. Those two levers alone control roughly two-thirds of your score. Most positive changes show up within one to two billing cycles after the behavior shifts, though building a longer credit history simply takes time.