Average Credit Score by Age: What to Expect at Every Age

Your credit score changes with age — but not the way you think. Fresh data from FICO, Experian, and Equifax breaks down the average credit score by age and shows you exactly what to do if your score isn’t where you want it to be.

Average U.S. credit score (2024): 714 (FICO) ·
Average Gen Z (18-25): 680 ·
Average 50-59: 706 ·
Percentage with 750+: approx. 33% ·
Good range: 670-739

The table below compiles key averages from multiple credit bureaus and financial sources.

What is a good credit score at each age?

FICO scores range from 300 to 850, and what counts as “good” actually doesn’t change with age — but the averages do. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau groups credit scores into risk categories: deep subprime (below 580), subprime (580–619), near-prime (620–659), prime (660–719), and super-prime (720 and above) (CFPB). FICO labels 670–739 as good and 740–799 as very good (NerdWallet).

What is a good credit score in your 20s?

• NerdWallet 2026 data: ages 18-29 average FICO 8 of 676 (NerdWallet)
• Experian 2023: Gen Z (18-26) average 680 (Experian)
• Chase data: people in their 20s average roughly 662 (Chase Bank)

For a 20-year-old, a score of 670 puts you in the good range and above the average for your age. The catch: shorter credit history pulls down the average, so a good score in your 20s is slightly lower than what middle-aged consumers reach.

What is a good credit score in your 30s?

• NerdWallet: ages 30-39 average FICO 8 of 686 (NerdWallet)
• Experian: Millennials (27-42) average 690 (Experian)
• Chase: average in 30s is 672 (Chase Bank)

The pattern: scores climb roughly 10-20 points per decade. A 700 in your 30s is solid — it’s above the average for that age bracket and qualifies for prime loan terms.

What is a good credit score at 40 and beyond?

• NerdWallet: ages 40-49 average 702; 50-59 average 718 (NerdWallet)
• Experian: Gen X (43-58) average 709; Baby Boomers (59-77) average 745 (Experian)
• Silent Generation (78+) average 760 (LendingTree)

By 40, the good range still starts at 670, but most 40-year-olds are already there. The real shift: after 50, scores edge into very good territory, reflecting decades of on-time payments and older accounts.

The pattern confirms that while credit scores rise with age, the definition of “good” remains constant.

What is the average credit score by age group?

Data from multiple sources — FICO and VantageScore — paint a consistent picture: scores rise with age, but the exact numbers vary by model and year. The table below compares the latest available averages by age bracket using NerdWallet’s FICO 8 data from early 2026.

The pattern: each decade adds roughly 15-20 points. The 60+ group breaks away because they’ve had the longest credit histories and often carry less debt.

Average credit score for a 19 year old

• Ally data: average FICO for ages 18-20 is 680 (Self Financial citing Ally)
• Equifax: average VantageScore for 18-year-olds is 712 (Equifax)

The gap between FICO and VantageScore for 19-year-olds is wide — partly because many young adults have thin files that VantageScore can score more leniently.

Average credit score for ages 20-24

• NerdWallet: 18-29 group includes these years, but separate data from Chase suggests early 20s average around 660-670 (Chase Bank)

This is the age when many take out their first car loan or credit card, so scores start climbing from the mid-600s baseline.

Average credit score for ages 25-34

• NerdWallet: 30-39 average 686; 25-34 likely falls in mid-680s (NerdWallet)
• Chase: average in 30s is 672 (Chase Bank)

The pattern: scores in this bracket benefit from student loans (if paid on time) and early job stability. The average hovers around 670-690.

Average credit score for ages 35-49

• NerdWallet: 40-49 average 702 (NerdWallet)
• Experian: Gen X (43-58) average 709 (Experian)

By the mid-40s, most consumers have a decade or more of credit history, pushing the average comfortably above 700. This is the prime lending zone.

Average credit score for ages 50-59

• NerdWallet: 50-59 average 718 (NerdWallet)
• Chase: average in 50s is 706 (Chase Bank)

This is where scores plateau. Baby Boomers average 745 overall, but the 50-59 bracket still shows room to grow into the 60s.

The trajectory reinforces that building a longer credit history yields higher scores over time.

What is Gen Z’s average credit score and why is it dropping?

Gen Z’s average FICO score sits at about 680, according to Experian and Business Insider. That’s lower than what Millennials and Gen X had at the same age. Worse, FICO’s 2024-2025 Credit Insights report shows Gen Z consumers experienced the largest average score drop of any age group — down about three points — and are more likely to see 50-point swings (FICO).

What is driving the drop in Gen Z credit scores?

• 34% of younger consumers hold student loan debt, vs. 17% of the total population (FICO)
• Resumption of student loan payments in late 2023 caused missed payments to rise (FICO)
• Short credit history and higher credit card utilization among young adults amplify volatility (NerdWallet)

The drop is real but not a reason to panic. Gen Z’s average is still within the “fair” to “good” range, and many are just starting to build credit.

How does Gen Z compare to Millennials and Gen X?

• Millennials: average FICO 690 (2023) (Rocket Money)
• Gen X: average FICO 709 (2023) (Self Financial)
• Baby Boomers: average FICO 745 (2023) (Self Financial)

The gap between Gen Z and Millennials is small — only about 10 points. Gen Z’s scores may look low compared to older generations, but they are on a normal trajectory for their age.

The implication is clear: proactive habits can prevent a minor dip from becoming a long-term setback.

How common is a 750 credit score?

A score of 750 is roughly the 67th percentile, according to Experian’s distribution data. About one-third of U.S. consumers have a score of 750 or higher (Experian).

What percentage of Americans have a credit score above 750?

• Approximately 33% of consumers have a score of 750 or higher (NerdWallet)
• 21% have a score of 800 or higher (Experian)

Is 750 considered a good credit score?

• Yes. A 750 FICO score is in the “very good” range (740-799) (NerdWallet)
• It qualifies for the best loan rates on mortgages and auto loans (Chase Bank)

The implication: 750 is a strong score that opens doors. If you’re below it, you’re not alone — two-thirds of Americans are in the same boat.

What is the biggest killer of credit scores?

Payment history alone accounts for 35% of a FICO score, making it the single most important factor (Chase Bank). Amounts owed (including credit utilization) contributes 30%, length of history 15%, credit mix 10%, and new credit 10%.

How does late payment affect your score?

• A single 30-day late payment can drop a good score by 60-110 points (Experian)
• Late payments stay on your credit report for 7 years (Equifax)

What is the impact of credit utilization?

• Using more than 30% of your available credit hurts scores significantly (Rocket Money)
• Ideal utilization is under 10% for the highest scores (NerdWallet)

How long do negative items stay on your report?

• Late payments: 7 years (Equifax)
• Chapter 7 bankruptcy: 10 years (CFPB)
• Hard inquiries: 2 years

Understanding these weightings helps prioritize actions for score improvement.

Can I rebuild my credit score from 650 to 750?

Yes, and it’s achievable within 6-12 months with consistent habits. The difference between 650 and 750 is roughly 100 points — enough to move from “fair” to “very good.” Here’s how.

Steps to increase your credit score from 600 to 750

• Pay all bills on time: Set up auto-pay or calendar reminders. Payment history is 35% of FICO (Chase Bank).
• Reduce credit card balances: Keep utilization under 30% — ideally under 10% (Rocket Money).
• Avoid new credit inquiries: Each hard inquiry costs a few points and stays 2 years (Business Insider).
• Keep old accounts open: Length of credit history is 15% of FICO (Self Financial).
• Dispute errors: Check your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and correct mistakes (CFPB).

How long does it take to improve a credit score?

• Most improvement happens in 6-12 months of consistent on-time payments and lower utilization (Rocket Money)
• Negative items (late payments) fade in impact after 2 years but remain for 7 (Equifax)

The math shows that consistent habits yield measurable returns within a year.

One more way to see the generational divide: side-by-side averages from Experian and NerdWallet.

Sources: Experian, NerdWallet. The pattern: across all scoring models, scores rise generationally, with Gen Z consistently about 10-12 points behind Millennials at comparable ages.

Actionable steps to improve your credit score at any age

Whether you’re 19 or 59, the fundamentals are the same. Follow these steps to build or rebuild your score.

1. Pay everything on time. Set up autopay for at least the minimum. Payment history is 35% of FICO.
2. Lower your credit utilization. Pay down credit card balances to under 30% of your limit — even better, under 10% (Rocket Money).
3. Limit new applications. Each hard inquiry dings your score by about 5 points (Business Insider).
4. Keep old cards open. The age of your oldest account boosts your length of credit history (Self Financial).
5. Diversify your credit mix. Having a mix of credit cards, installment loans (auto, student, mortgage) helps if managed responsibly.
6. Monitor your credit reports. Check for errors at AnnualCreditReport.com. Dispute incorrect late payments or accounts (CFPB).

The financial stakes are high, making each step toward a higher score a direct investment in your future.

These uncertainties underscore the need to consult multiple sources when evaluating your own score.

Expert perspectives on credit scores and age

“Average credit scores by age show a steady increase as consumers build longer credit histories.”

Experian spokesperson (via Ask Experian blog)

“Credit scores typically rise with age, but the definition of a good score stays the same.”

NerdWallet analyst (NerdWallet)

Summary

The average credit score by age follows a clear trajectory: mid-600s in your 20s, 700 in your 40s, and mid-700s by retirement. That pattern isn’t caused by age itself — it’s driven by longer credit history, more on-time payments, and lower utilization. For Gen Z, the recent dip is a call to action: prioritize on-time payments and keep utilization low. For any age, the path from 650 to 750 is the same. For the 25-year-old with a 680 score, the choice is clear: start building good habits today, or pay thousands more in interest over the next decade.

For a deeper dive into how these averages compare to broader standards, see what constitutes a good credit score across age groups.

Frequently asked questions