What Is the Average Net Worth in the United States
The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, the most recent edition released in 2023, reports that the median net worth of U.S. families was about 192,900 dollars, while the mean net worth was roughly 1,034,800 dollars as of the survey period ending mid-2022. The median figure is often seen as a better indicator of typical household wealth because it is less skewed by the very richest households, which pull the mean higher. The next update of the survey is expected to cover data through 2025, with publication anticipated in late 2026, according to the Federal Reserve Board's official release schedule Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
Mean net worth is calculated by adding up the value of all assets, including real estate, retirement accounts, businesses, and financial investments, then subtracting all debts such as mortgages, student loans, and credit card balances. Because a small number of ultra-wealthy households hold a disproportionate share of total wealth, the mean can be several times larger than the median, which is why analysts often highlight both numbers when discussing average net worth.
How Net Worth Breaks Down by Age and Income
Net Worth by Age Group
According to the same Federal Reserve data, families headed by someone under 35 had a median net worth of about 13,900 dollars, while families headed by someone 65 or older had a median net worth of roughly 409,900 dollars. The highest mean net worth by age group belonged to families led by those aged 65 to 74, with an average exceeding 1.2 million dollars. The age pattern reflects decades of home equity accumulation, retirement savings, and compounding investment returns.
Net Worth by Income Bracket
The survey shows that families in the top income quintile had a median net worth of about 1.2 million dollars, compared with a median of roughly 5,000 dollars for families in the bottom quintile. The top 10 percent of families by income held more than two-thirds of total net worth, while the bottom 50 percent held less than 2 percent. Income and net worth are related but distinct, because net worth also depends on factors such as home ownership, inheritance, and investment gains.
Key Assets and Liabilities Driving Net Worth
Real Estate and Retirement Accounts
For most American households, the largest asset is the value of their primary residence, which accounted for roughly 25 percent of total household assets in the latest survey. Retirement accounts, including 401(k) plans and IRAs, made up another large share, with the Federal Reserve noting that about 60 percent of families reported some retirement account holdings. The value of these assets can swing significantly with housing market cycles and stock market performance.
Debt and the Wealth Gap
Mortgage debt remains the single largest liability for U.S. families, but student loans, auto loans, and credit card balances also weigh on net worth, especially for younger households. The Federal Reserve's data highlights a persistent racial wealth gap, with median net worth for White families far exceeding that of Black and Hispanic families, a pattern shaped by differences in home equity, inherited wealth, and access to capital. Detailed tables and charts are available in the full Federal Reserve report Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.