U.S. Net Worth vs Age: Latest Federal Reserve Data
The latest Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances reports that median U.S. net worth by age varies widely, with households aged 65 to 74 holding a median net worth around $400,000, while those aged 35 to 44 have a median near $135,000, and the 75 and older group reaches a median above $250,000. Average net worth is much higher due to outliers, with the top 10 percent of U.S. households by age holding the bulk of financial assets and real estate, as detailed in the latest release from the Federal Reserve Board's Survey of Consumer Finances 2024 SCF report.
Comparing net worth vs age shows that U.S. wealth concentration rises sharply after age 55, with the top 1 percent of households by age holding over 30 percent of total household net worth, while the bottom 50 percent hold less than 5 percent. The Federal Reserve data also shows that the age group with the highest average net worth is 65 to 74, driven by home equity, retirement accounts, and business ownership, while younger households carry more debt relative to assets.
Average Net Worth by Age Group: Key Figures and Percentiles
For households aged 35 to 44, the average net worth is roughly $450,000, while the median is much lower, around $135,000, reflecting the skew from high-net-worth individuals. The 45 to 54 age group reaches an average net worth near $830,000, and the 55 to 64 group averages over $1.1 million, according to the latest Federal Reserve data Federal Reserve data tables.
At the top percentile, households aged 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 hold the largest shares of aggregate net worth, with many tied to private business equity, publicly traded stock, and real estate. The top 1 percent of U.S. households by age 65 and older hold a disproportionate share of retirement account balances and non-financial assets, while the 35 to 44 group shows the highest student loan debt relative to net worth, as reported in the Federal Reserve's latest release FEDS Notes on age and wealth inequality.
How Assets, Debt, and Business Ownership Shape Net Worth by Age
Home equity remains the single largest asset for most U.S. households across age groups, with the 65 to 74 cohort holding the highest median home equity, while younger households rely more on retirement accounts and vehicles. Business ownership is concentrated in the 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 groups, where private business equity often accounts for a large share of net worth, especially among the top percentiles Forbes analysis of wealth by age.
Debt patterns also differ by age, with the 35 to 44 group carrying the highest mortgage and student loan balances relative to assets, while the 75 and older group has the lowest debt