Average Credit Score by Age: How Does Yours Compare?

· Updated

Credit scores tend to increase with age due to longer credit history and more financial experience. Here’s how your score compares to others your age.

Quick answer: Average credit score by age: Gen Z: 680, Millennials: 690, Gen X: 709, Baby Boomers: 745, Silent Generation: 760. Scores typically increase 50-80 points from 20s to 60s.

Average Credit Score by Age (2026)

Age Group Generation Average FICO Score Average VantageScore
18-25 Gen Z 680 664
26-41 Millennials 690 679
42-57 Gen X 709 699
58-76 Baby Boomers 745 736
77+ Silent Generation 760 758

Detailed Breakdown by Age

Ages 18-20

Metric Value
Average FICO 660
With positive history 680-700
No credit history N/A (no score)
With student card only 650-680

Ages 21-25

Metric Value
Average FICO 673
Average VantageScore 660
25th percentile 620
75th percentile 720

Ages 26-30

Metric Value
Average FICO 682
Average VantageScore 673
25th percentile 640
75th percentile 740

Ages 31-35

Metric Value
Average FICO 693
Average VantageScore 683
25th percentile 660
75th percentile 750

Ages 36-40

Metric Value
Average FICO 700
Average VantageScore 690
25th percentile 665
75th percentile 760

Ages 41-50

Metric Value
Average FICO 709
Average VantageScore 699
25th percentile 670
75th percentile 770

Ages 51-60

Metric Value
Average FICO 730
Average VantageScore 718
25th percentile 680
75th percentile 790

Ages 61-70

Metric Value
Average FICO 750
Average VantageScore 741
25th percentile 700
75th percentile 800

Ages 71+

Metric Value
Average FICO 760
Average VantageScore 758
25th percentile 720
75th percentile 810

Credit Score Percentiles by Age

Age 25

Percentile Score
10th 570
25th 620
50th (median) 670
75th 720
90th 760

Age 35

Percentile Score
10th 590
25th 650
50th (median) 695
75th 750
90th 790

Age 45

Percentile Score
10th 600
25th 665
50th (median) 710
75th 765
90th 800

Age 55

Percentile Score
10th 620
25th 680
50th (median) 730
75th 785
90th 815

Age 65+

Percentile Score
10th 640
25th 700
50th (median) 755
75th 800
90th 825

Why Credit Scores Increase With Age

Factor Impact
Length of credit history 15% of score — older = longer history
Payment history More years of on-time payments
Lower utilization Higher limits, more stable spending
Fewer new accounts Less new credit activity
Financial stability Higher income, more assets
Mortgage history Long-term positive payment history

Credit History Length Impact

Years of History Score Impact
< 1 year Limited/thin file
1-3 years Moderate history
3-7 years Solid history
7-10 years Good history
10+ years Excellent history

Good vs. Average vs. Below Average by Age

What’s “Good” at Each Age

Age Below Average Average Good Excellent
20-25 < 620 660-680 700-740 740+
26-35 < 640 680-700 720-760 760+
36-45 < 660 700-720 740-780 780+
46-55 < 680 720-740 760-800 800+
56+ < 700 740-760 780-810 810+

Building Credit at Every Age

Ages 18-25: Build the Foundation

Action Impact
Get a student/secured card Start credit history
Become authorized user Inherit good history
Keep utilization < 30% Good habits early
Never miss a payment Most important factor
Don’t close old accounts History length matters later

Ages 26-35: Grow Strategically

Action Impact
Diversify credit types Mortgage, auto, credit cards
Request credit limit increases Lower utilization
Keep old accounts open Longer average history
Minimize hard inquiries Apply strategically

Ages 36-50: Maintain and Optimize

Action Impact
Keep utilization very low Under 10% ideal
Maintain diverse account mix Shows experience
Avoid unnecessary new credit Protect history length
Monitor for errors Dispute inaccuracies

Ages 50+: Preserve Your Score

Action Impact
Keep old accounts active Don’t close long-standing cards
Low utilization Key to maintaining high score
Avoid co-signing Protect your score
Monitor regularly Fraud protection

Credit Score by Age and Income

Higher income tends to correlate with higher scores:

Age 35 Income < $50k Income $50-100k Income > $100k
Average score 660 695 730
% > 700 35% 50% 70%
Age 55 Income < $50k Income $50-100k Income > $100k
Average score 695 735 770
% > 700 50% 70% 85%

Credit Score by Age and Education

Education Level Average Score (All Ages)
No high school diploma 658
High school diploma 678
Some college 695
Bachelor’s degree 725
Graduate degree 750

Score Recovery Time by Age

How long to rebuild after credit damage:

Starting Point Age 25 Age 40 Age 55
550 → 700 2-3 years 1.5-2.5 years 1.5-2 years
620 → 700 1-2 years 1-1.5 years 1-1.5 years
650 → 750 2-3 years 1.5-2 years 1-2 years

Older borrowers often recover faster due to longer positive history base.

Age vs. Credit Score Myths

Myth Reality
“Young people can’t have good credit” 18-year-olds can have 750+ with authorized user status
“Old people always have good credit” Many seniors have poor credit from mistakes or fraud
“You need to be 21 to build credit” 18+ can get credit; authorized user at any age
“Credit scores level off after 50” Scores can continue improving into 70s+

Bottom Line

  • Average scores increase with age: 680s (young adults) to 760 (seniors)
  • A 700 score at age 25 puts you ahead of most peers
  • Length of credit history (15% of score) naturally improves with age
  • Young adults can achieve 750+ scores within a few years of starting
  • Focus on payment history and utilization — these matter more than age
  • If you’re above average for your age, you’re on the right track
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