Loading CalcVerseAI...
See how your net worth compares to national averages by age group. Data sourced from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (2022) โ the most comprehensive US household wealth survey.
$247K
Median net worth (45โ54)
Mid-career benchmark
$976K
Average net worth (45โ54)
Skewed by top earners
$410K
Peak median (65โ74)
Near-retirement benchmark
2022
Federal Reserve SCF
Most recent survey
Federal Reserve SCF 2022. Average line capped at $2M for readability (65โ74 average: $1.79M).
Source: Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Consumer Finances 2022. All figures in 2022 dollars.
All figures from Federal Reserve SCF 2022. Median = midpoint value; Average = arithmetic mean across all households.
| Age Range | Median Net Worth | Average Net Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,000 | $183,500 |
| 35โ44 | $135,600 | $549,600 |
| 45โ54 | $247,200 | $975,800 |
| 55โ64 | $364,500 | $1,566,900 |
| 65โ74 | $409,900 | $1,794,600 |
| 75+ | $335,600 | $1,624,100 |
Source: Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Consumer Finances 2022. Figures in 2022 dollars. Avg รท Median shows skew caused by high-wealth households.
Median vs. Average: Which Number Should You Use?
The median net worth โ the midpoint where half of households have more and half have less โ is the most useful benchmark for most people. The average (mean) is dramatically skewed upward by billionaires and multi-millionaires. For example, in the 65โ74 age group, the median is $409,900 but the average is $1,794,600 โ a 4.4ร gap driven by extreme wealth concentration at the top. If you want to know if you're "on track," compare yourself to the median.
Why Net Worth Peaks in the 65โ74 Range
Net worth typically peaks just before or at early retirement (65โ74 age group), when households have completed their peak earning years, maxed out retirement savings, and often paid off their mortgage. After 75+, net worth tends to decline as households draw down retirement accounts, spend on healthcare, and transfer assets to heirs.
The Power of Compounding: Why Starting Early Matters
The jump from "Under 35" ($39,000 median) to "35โ44" ($135,600 median) โ a 3.5ร increase in just one decade โ illustrates how compounding accelerates wealth building in middle age. A 25-year-old who invests $500/month at 7% annual returns will have ~$1.3M by age 65. Delaying by 10 years (starting at 35) produces only ~$610,000 โ less than half โ even with the same total contributions.
What's Included in Net Worth?
The Federal Reserve SCF defines net worth as total assets minus total liabilities. Assets include: financial assets (retirement accounts, stocks, bonds, savings), primary residence, other real estate, vehicles, and business equity. Liabilities include: mortgage debt, student loans, auto loans, credit card balances, and other debt. For most middle-class households, home equity and retirement accounts represent the two largest components of net worth.
Based on saving 15% of income from age 25, retiring at 67 with 45% income replacement.
Conservative targets for households beginning retirement saving after age 25.
Based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate (25ร expenses = 4% annual draw). FIRE targets vary widely.
Wealth Concentration
The top 10% of US households by wealth held approximately 67% of total US wealth as of 2022. This extreme concentration is why averages are so much higher than medians across all age groups.
Home Equity Is #1
Primary residence equity is the largest single asset for most middle-class households, accounting for roughly 25โ40% of net worth for homeowners aged 45โ74. Rising home prices since 2020 significantly boosted median net worth.
Young Adults Face Headwinds
Households under 35 face student loan debt (average ~$38,000), high housing costs, and shorter savings timelines โ all contributing to the relatively low $39,000 median net worth despite strong incomes.
Retirement Accounts Drive Growth
401(k)s, IRAs, and other defined contribution plans are the primary wealth-building vehicle for 45โ65 age groups. Consistent contributions and employer matches compound dramatically over 20โ30 year careers.
Race and Education Gaps
The SCF 2022 shows significant wealth gaps by race and education. Median net worth: White non-Hispanic households ~$285,000; Black households ~$44,900; Hispanic households ~$61,600. College graduates hold ~5ร the net worth of non-graduates.
Pandemic-Era Wealth Surge
The 2022 survey captured a historic surge in household wealth driven by rising home values, stock market gains, and government stimulus. Median family net worth rose 37% in real terms from 2019 to 2022 โ the largest 3-year increase since the survey began in 1989.
Data source: Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) 2022. Available at federalreserve.gov/scf. The SCF is conducted every three years and is the most comprehensive survey of US household balance sheets, income, and financial behaviors.
Sample: The 2022 SCF included approximately 4,600 families, with oversampling of high-wealth households (using IRS Statistics of Income data) to accurately estimate wealth concentration at the top.
Net worth definition: Total assets minus total liabilities. Assets include financial assets (deposits, stocks, bonds, retirement accounts), nonfinancial assets (primary residence, other real estate, vehicles, businesses). Liabilities include all outstanding debt (mortgage, auto, student, credit card, other).
Figures reported: Mean (average) uses the full sample with imputed values for survey non-response. Median is the 50th percentile of the distribution. All figures are in 2022 dollars (not inflation-adjusted to today).
Update frequency: The SCF is conducted every 3 years. The 2022 SCF was published October 2023. The next survey (2025) results are expected approximately 2025โ2026.
Use these tools to benchmark, build, and project your net worth.
Net Worth Calculator
Calculate your current net worth and track progress
Retirement Calculator
Project when you can retire based on your savings rate
Compound Interest Calculator
Model how your investments compound over time
Investment Calculator
Project portfolio growth at various return rates
Inflation Data Hub
See how inflation erodes real purchasing power over time
Coast FIRE Calculator
Find out when your investments can grow to your FIRE target