Your credit score affects mortgage rates, credit card approvals, auto loan terms, insurance premiums, and even rental applications. Here’s where the average American stands and how you compare.
Quick answer: Average US score: 715 (FICO). Good: 670-739, Very Good: 740-799, Exceptional: 800+. Age 18-25: 660, Age 66+: 752.
Credit Score Ranges
| FICO Score Range | Rating | % of Americans |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | 22% |
| 740–799 | Very Good | 25% |
| 670–739 | Good | 21% |
| 580–669 | Fair | 17% |
| 300–579 | Poor | 15% |
National average: 715 (FICO)
Average Credit Score by Age
Credit scores tend to increase with age, primarily because of longer credit histories and more established payment records:
| Age Group | Average FICO Score |
|---|---|
| 18–25 | 660 |
| 26–35 | 680 |
| 36–45 | 698 |
| 46–55 | 718 |
| 56–65 | 735 |
| 66–75 | 752 |
| 76+ | 760 |
The 100-point gap between youngest and oldest consumers reflects the weight of credit history length (15% of FICO score) and established payment patterns.
Average Credit Score by State
| Highest Scores | Avg. Score | Lowest Scores | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 742 | Mississippi | 680 |
| Wisconsin | 737 | Louisiana | 684 |
| Vermont | 736 | Alabama | 686 |
| South Dakota | 735 | Texas | 688 |
| North Dakota | 734 | Georgia | 689 |
| New Hampshire | 733 | South Carolina | 690 |
| Massachusetts | 731 | Oklahoma | 690 |
| Washington | 730 | West Virginia | 691 |
| Hawaii | 729 | Nevada | 692 |
| Oregon | 728 | Arkansas | 693 |
States with higher average incomes and lower poverty rates tend to have higher average credit scores.
What Goes Into Your Credit Score
| Factor | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% | On-time vs. late payments |
| Amounts owed (utilization) | 30% | How much of available credit you use |
| Length of credit history | 15% | Average age of accounts |
| Credit mix | 10% | Variety of account types |
| New credit inquiries | 10% | Recent credit applications |
Credit Utilization Sweet Spot
| Utilization Rate | Impact |
|---|---|
| 0% | Slightly negative (shows no activity) |
| 1–9% | Best range |
| 10–29% | Good |
| 30–49% | Starts hurting |
| 50%+ | Significantly negative |
| 75%+ | Severely damages score |
Keeping utilization under 10% across all cards is the most impactful thing you can do to maintain a high score.
How Credit Scores Affect Borrowing Costs
The difference in interest rates by credit score is substantial:
30-Year Fixed Mortgage ($350,000)
| Credit Score Range | Interest Rate | Monthly Payment | Total Interest (30 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 760–850 | 6.50% | $2,212 | $446,320 |
| 700–759 | 6.72% | $2,268 | $466,480 |
| 680–699 | 6.90% | $2,314 | $482,840 |
| 660–679 | 7.11% | $2,367 | $502,120 |
| 620–659 | 7.66% | $2,511 | $553,960 |
The difference between excellent (760+) and fair (660) credit is $299/month or $107,640 in extra interest over the life of the loan.
Auto Loan (5-Year, $35,000)
| Credit Score | APR | Monthly Payment | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750+ | 5.6% | $670 | $5,200 |
| 700–749 | 7.4% | $700 | $6,960 |
| 650–699 | 10.1% | $747 | $9,820 |
| 600–649 | 14.2% | $818 | $14,080 |
| Below 600 | 18.5% | $894 | $18,640 |
How to Improve Your Credit Score
Quick Wins (1-2 months)
- Pay down credit card balances — Reducing utilization below 10% can boost your score 20-50 points
- Request a credit limit increase — This lowers your utilization ratio without paying anything
- Become an authorized user — Being added to a family member’s old, high-limit card can help
- Dispute errors — ~25% of consumers have material errors on their reports
Medium-Term (3-12 months)
- Set up autopay — Never miss a payment (35% of your score)
- Don’t close old cards — Closing accounts shortens your average credit age
- Diversify credit types — A mix of revolving (cards) and installment (loans) helps
- Limit hard inquiries — Each application can ding your score 5-10 points
Long-Term (1-5 years)
- Build payment history — Years of on-time payments compound into an excellent score
- Let accounts age — Average account age directly impacts 15% of your score
- Maintain low utilization consistently — Month-over-month consistency matters
Average Credit Score Over Time
The national average has been trending upward:
| Year | Average FICO Score |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 689 |
| 2015 | 695 |
| 2018 | 701 |
| 2020 | 710 |
| 2022 | 714 |
| 2024 | 715 |
| 2026 | 715 |
The improvement is attributed to better financial literacy, credit-building products, and changes to scoring models that reduced the impact of medical collections.