What's the Average Credit Score in America Right Now? (2026)

The National Average Right Now

The average FICO® Score in the U.S. is 713, and the average VantageScore 3.0 is 698. Those two numbers look like they should match, but they don't have to — (/fico-10-vs-vantagescore-4-what-lenders-actually-use-2026) run different formulas against different snapshots of your credit file, and lenders don't all pull the same one. A mortgage lender is more likely to pull a FICO score; a lot of free credit-monitoring apps show you VantageScore instead.

Here's the number that actually matters more: for the first time since 2013, (https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-the-average-credit-score-in-the-u-s/), slipping two points from 715 in 2024 to 713. Small move, sure. But it broke a streak of more than a decade where the average either held steady or climbed every single year.

Why the Average Dipped in 2025

Two things did most of the work. Missed-payment rates crept up roughly a point year-over-year, and average credit card utilization — how much of your available credit you're actually using — climbed as balances grew. Neither shift was dramatic on its own. But payment history and utilization together make up close to two-thirds of a FICO Score, so a modest move in both is enough to nudge the national number.

Utilization deserves its own mention, because it's the more volatile of the two — it can swing a score meaningfully within a single billing cycle. (/credit-utilization-30-day-rule) explains why the balance your card issuer reports on your statement date, not what you owe today, is usually what your score reacts to.

None of this means any one person's finances got worse. National averages move with aggregate behavior across hundreds of millions of accounts — a useful benchmark, not a verdict on your own file.

Average Score by Age and Generation

Credit scores climb with age, mostly because credit history length and track record both grow the longer someone's been using credit. The two scoring models tell a consistent story, even if the exact numbers differ:

FICO Score by generation (2025):

• Gen Z (18–28): 678
• Millennials (29–44): 689
• Gen X (45–60): 709
• Baby Boomers (61–79): 747
• Silent Generation (80+): 760

VantageScore 3.0 by generation (Feb. 2026):

• Gen Z: 668
• Millennials: 679
• Gen X: 702
• Baby Boomers: 743
• Silent Generation: 750

If you're in your 20s or early 30s and your score sits below the national average, that's not a red flag by itself. It's largely a function of a shorter credit history — the one factor that fixes itself just by keeping accounts open and current over time.

Average Score by State

State averages spread out more than the generational numbers do. (https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-the-average-credit-score-in-the-u-s/), with Wisconsin and Vermont close behind at 737 each. At the other end, Mississippi (677), Louisiana (686), and Alabama (689) post the lowest state averages.

The gap tends to track income levels, average debt-to-limit ratios, and how much access residents have to prime-rate credit products, not anything unique about a state's laws. Live in a lower-average state? The factors that move your individual score are identical to anywhere else in the country.

What Moves the National Average

The weighting behind a FICO Score hasn't changed, and that's exactly why the same two levers — payment history and utilization — explain most year-over-year swings in the national number:

• Payment history — about 35%. The single biggest factor. On-time payments, every account, every month.
• Credit utilization — about 30%. How much of your available revolving credit you're using.
• Length of credit history — about 15%. Older accounts and a longer average account age help.
• New credit — about 10%. Recent applications and newly opened accounts.
• Credit mix — about 10%. A mix of revolving (cards) and installment (loans) accounts.

That's roughly 65% of your score coming from just two factors you touch every single billing cycle. Which is also why they're the fastest way to move your own number, up or down.

What Counts as a Good Score in 2026

Despite the national average slipping, the share of consumers with strong credit hasn't collapsed. If anything, the top end is stronger than ever: about 70% of consumers now hold a "good" FICO Score (670+) or better, and 22.8% sit in the exceptional 800–850 range — an all-time high.

Rough bands to know:

• 670+ — Good
• 740+ — Very good
• 800+ — Exceptional

The gap between "good" and "very good" matters more at the lender's desk than it might seem. 720 has effectively become the new 740 for a lot of mortgage and auto pricing tiers, so clearing that threshold — not chasing a perfect score — is usually the more useful goal.

What You Can Do This Week

• Pay down revolving balances before your statement closing date. The (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/understand-your-credit-score/) of your total limit. Lower is better if you can manage it, since utilization is the fastest-moving factor in either direction.
• Automate at least the minimum payment on every account. Payment history is the largest single lever in your score, and a single 30-day-late mark can undo months of progress.
• Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com and check for errors before assuming a lower-than-expected score is accurate. Inaccurate items are more common than most people expect, and they're fixable.
• If you'd rather have someone manage the dispute and rebuild process for you, (/#top-companies) among the credit-repair services we review.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average credit score in the US right now?

The average FICO Score is 713 and the average VantageScore 3.0 is 698. The two models track closely but aren't identical, so which one applies to you depends on which score a lender pulls.

Why did the average credit score drop in 2025?

Rising missed-payment rates and higher credit card utilization were the two biggest drivers. Payment history and utilization together make up roughly two-thirds of a FICO Score, so even small increases in late payments or card balances nationwide are enough to nudge the average down.

What's considered a good credit score in 2026?

670 and above is generally considered good, 740+ is very good, and 800+ is exceptional. About 70% of consumers now fall in the good range or better, and a record 22.8% are in the 800–850 exceptional tier.

Does my credit score really update every month?

Most lenders report to the credit bureaus roughly once a month, so your score typically refreshes on a similar cadence — though the exact day varies by creditor and which bureau a lender pulls from.

Which state has the highest average credit score?

Minnesota currently leads at 741, followed closely by Wisconsin and Vermont at 737. Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama sit at the bottom of the state rankings, in the high 670s to high 680s.

The Bottom Line

The national average credit score is 713 (FICO) or 698 (VantageScore) right now — the first year-over-year dip in more than a decade, driven mostly by rising utilization and a small uptick in missed payments. Where you personally land depends far more on your own payment history and utilization than on your age, your state, or the national trend. Those same two levers are the fastest way to close the gap: pay on time, keep balances low relative to your limits, and the rest tends to follow.