A credit score of 718 is the national average for US consumers in 2024, placing the typical American in approximately the 50th percentile. A score of 760 or above puts you in the top 35% and qualifies you for the best available mortgage and auto loan rates.
Enter your FICO score below to find your exact percentile.
Last updated: May 25, 2026.
📊 FICO Score Distribution (US, 2024)
💰 What Your Score Means for Borrowing
FICO Score Ranges and What They Mean
FICO scores run from 300 to 850. Lenders group scores into five tiers, each corresponding to a different level of credit risk and access to credit:
| FICO Score Range | Category | % of Consumers | Percentile Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | ~23% | 77th–100th |
| 740–799 | Very Good | ~18% | 59th–77th |
| 670–739 | Good | ~22% | 37th–59th |
| 580–669 | Fair | ~22% | 15th–37th |
| 300–579 | Very Poor | ~15% | 0–15th |
Source: myFICO, Experian 2024. Percentile ranges are approximate and based on FICO Score 8 distribution.
The national median FICO score is 718, which falls in the “Good” tier. If your score is at or above 718, you are in the top half of US consumers.
How Credit Score Percentile Affects What You Pay
Your credit score doesn’t just determine whether you get approved — it determines how much you pay for every major loan over your lifetime. The interest rate difference between a “Fair” and “Exceptional” score can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Example ($400,000 Loan, 2026)
| FICO Score | Est. Rate | Monthly Payment | Total Interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800+ | 6.1% | $2,425 | $473,000 |
| 740–799 | 6.3% | $2,482 | $493,500 |
| 670–739 | 6.9% | $2,641 | $550,800 |
| 580–669 | 8.1% | $2,979 | $672,400 |
Rates are illustrative 2026 national averages. Actual rates vary by lender, loan type, LTV, and market conditions.
Going from a 660 score to a 760 score on a $400,000 mortgage saves approximately $100,800 in total interest over the life of the loan — or about $280 per month.
Worked Example: What Does a 740 Score Mean?
Scenario: James has a FICO score of 740. He’s applying for a $350,000 mortgage.
Percentile result: 740 is approximately the 57th–61st percentile — James scores higher than about 58% of American consumers. He’s in the “Very Good” tier.
Real-world impact: At 740, James likely qualifies for a rate around 6.3%. If his score were 680 instead, he’d face roughly 6.8%–7.0% — adding approximately $125–$145 to his monthly payment and $45,000–$52,000 over the life of the loan.
Action: James could push his score from 740 to 780+ by reducing his credit utilisation below 10% on his revolving accounts, which would likely move him into the top 25% and could shave another $50–$80 off his monthly payment.
What Factors Determine Your FICO Score?
| Factor | Weight | What Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Payment history | 35% | Never miss a payment — even one late payment can drop your score 50–100 points |
| Amounts owed (utilisation) | 30% | Keep utilisation below 30%; below 10% for best results |
| Length of credit history | 15% | Keep old accounts open, even if unused |
| New credit (inquiries) | 10% | Avoid opening multiple new accounts in a short period |
| Credit mix | 10% | Having both revolving (cards) and installment (loans) credit helps |
The single most impactful action for most people is paying down credit card balances to reduce utilisation. Paying a card from 80% to 10% utilisation can raise your score 50–100 points within one billing cycle.
FICO Score vs. VantageScore: What’s the Difference?
Most lenders use FICO scores. VantageScore is the second most common model and is what many free credit monitoring services (Credit Karma, Chase Credit Journey) report. The scales are the same (300–850) but the algorithms differ slightly.
- VantageScore tends to be slightly higher than FICO for consumers with thin credit files
- FICO Score 8 is used by most major lenders for general credit decisions
- FICO Score 2, 4, or 5 are the versions used specifically for mortgage underwriting
If your free credit monitoring shows 740 but your mortgage lender quotes a higher rate than expected, check your FICO Score directly at myFICO.com — the mortgage-specific score can differ by 20–40 points.
Related Calculators and Guides
- Credit score guide 2026 — how scores work, what affects them, and how to improve
- Net worth percentile calculator — where your total wealth ranks
- Income percentile calculator — where your salary ranks nationally
- Debt-to-income ratio calculator — a key mortgage qualification metric
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