The typical American family under 35 is now worth just $33,000 — 23% less than three years ago. Meanwhile, families over 75 got 37% richer and, for the first time in recent surveys, became the wealthiest age group in the country.
Those numbers come from the Federal Reserve’s brand-new 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, released on October 9, 2026. It is the most detailed snapshot of American wealth that exists, and it only comes out every three years.
So how do you stack up? Below you’ll find the median and average net worth for every age group, what separates the top 10% from everyone else, and how long it would take a typical family to earn a superstar’s fortune.
Key numbers at a glance
- Median U.S. family net worth: $215,900 (up 2% since 2022)
- Average U.S. family net worth: $1.24 million (up 7%) — pulled up by the very rich
- Under 35: median $33,000, down 23%
- 75 and older: median $504,900, up 37% — now the richest age group
- Nearly 1 in 5 families fell behind on a loan payment last year, the highest share since 2010
Net worth = everything you own (cash, investments, retirement accounts, home, car, business) minus everything you owe (mortgage, car loans, student loans, credit cards). All figures are in 2025 dollars.
Average and Median Net Worth by Age (2026 Update)
The median is the number to compare yourself against: half of families have more, half have less. The average is inflated by billionaires and multimillionaires, so it runs 4 to 6 times higher at every age.
| Age of head of household | Median net worth 2025 | Change vs 2022 | Average net worth 2025 | Change vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $33,000 | −23% | $135,400 | −33% |
| 35–44 | $155,600 | +5% | $681,900 | +13% |
| 45–54 | $253,700 | −6% | $1,244,500 | +17% |
| 55–64 | $411,900 | +3% | $1,878,000 | +10% |
| 65–74 | $431,300 | −4% | $1,897,600 | −3% |
| 75 and older | $504,900 | +37% | $1,962,200 | +10% |
| All families | $215,900 | +2% | $1,241,500 | +7% |
What’s Happening at Each Age
Net worth in your 20s and early 30s: $33,000
This is the group that took the biggest hit. The Fed says the drop mostly came from business gains made between 2019 and 2022 disappearing. Young families who owned small businesses or side ventures saw those values shrink.
If you’re under 35 with a positive net worth, you’re already ahead of many peers. Among young families who have a 401(k) or IRA, the average balance is about $48,400.
Net worth in your late 30s and early 40s: $155,600
This is the acceleration decade. Income climbs, and home equity and retirement savings start compounding. Average retirement balances for this group jumped to $182,400, up from $154,800 in 2022.
Net worth in your late 40s and early 50s: $253,700
The median slipped 6% while the average rose 17%. Translation: people at the top of this age group pulled away from everyone else. Retirement account holders here average $415,800.
Net worth in your late 50s and early 60s: $411,900
Mortgages are getting paid down and portfolios are maturing. Families in this group with retirement accounts average $670,200 — the highest of the last four surveys.
Net worth from 65 to 74: $431,300
Newly retired families saw a small dip as many began drawing down savings to live on.
Net worth at 75 and older: $504,900 — the new richest group
This is the shock of the new data. Families 75 and older saw their median wealth jump 37%. The Fed says the main driver was a rise in the value of retirement accounts, thanks to strong stock markets.
Where Do You Rank? The Gaps That Matter Most
Age is only part of the story. Three factors predict wealth even more strongly.
| Group | Median net worth 2025 |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of families | $4,935,200 |
| Families between the 75th and 90th percentile | $1,267,500 |
| Middle (50th–75th percentile) | $405,700 |
| Bottom 25% | $1,700 |
| Homeowners | $458,900 |
| Renters | $10,600 |
| College degree | $505,400 |
| High school diploma | $106,700 |
Owning a home is the single biggest dividing line. The typical homeowner is worth about 43 times more than the typical renter. Home equity is the largest piece of wealth for most middle-class families, and the median homeowner now holds $230,000 in equity.
The top 10% keeps pulling away. Their median wealth grew 19% in three years, while the bottom quarter’s fell from $3,800 to $1,700.
A degree still pays. College-educated families have nearly five times the median net worth of families with only a high school diploma.
How Long Would It Take You to Get Jay-Z Rich?
Forbes puts Jay-Z’s fortune at about $2.5 billion, making him the richest musician in the world. Here’s how that compares with a typical American family:
- It equals the combined net worth of roughly 11,600 median American families.
- A family earning the median income of $82,200 a year would need about 30,400 years to earn it — without spending a single dollar.
- Even the median family in the top 10% would need to multiply its wealth about 500 times to catch him.
The lesson from the richest artists is the same one the Fed data shows: wealth comes from owning things that grow — businesses, catalogs, stock, real estate — not from a paycheck alone. See who else makes the list in our Top 100 Richest People in the World.
The Warning Signs Hidden in the New Data
Wealth went up on paper, but many families are under real pressure.
- Late payments surged. 19.6% of families were behind on a loan payment last year, up from 12.2% in 2022 — the worst reading since 2010.
- Housing is the least affordable on record. A mortgage on the median home now eats about 33% of the median family’s monthly income, up from 26% in 2022.
- Credit card debt grew. Among families carrying a balance, the average now stands at $8,000, up $1,300.
- “Buy now, pay later” took off. 12% of families had a BNPL balance, up from 7%.
- Fewer people own stocks. Stock market participation slipped from 58% to 56%, and the decline came almost entirely from families outside the top 10% of earners.
The pattern is clear: families who already owned homes and investments got richer, while renters and younger families lost ground.
6 Moves That Grow Net Worth at Any Age
- Calculate your number today. List what you own, subtract what you owe. You can’t grow what you don’t measure.
- Kill high-interest debt first. With credit card rates above 21%, paying down a balance is a guaranteed return few investments can match.
- Capture the free money. If your employer matches 401(k) contributions, contribute at least enough to get the full match.
- Own, don’t just earn. The wealthiest families hold stocks, real estate and businesses. Even small, regular index-fund purchases put you on the ownership side.
- Build equity, not just shelter. Homeowners’ median wealth is 43 times that of renters. If buying isn’t realistic yet, invest the difference between rent and what a mortgage would cost.
- Protect your downside. An emergency fund keeps one bad month from turning into late payments and new debt.
This article is for informational purposes and isn’t financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average net worth of an American family in 2026?
The latest Federal Reserve data puts the average at $1.24 million and the median at $215,900. The median is the better benchmark because a small number of very wealthy families pull the average up.
What is a good net worth at 30?
The median net worth for families under 35 is $33,000. Anything above that puts you ahead of most of your peers.
What is the average net worth at 40?
For families aged 35 to 44, the median is $155,600 and the average is $681,900.
What is the average net worth at 50?
For families aged 45 to 54, the median is $253,700 and the average is $1.24 million.
How much net worth puts you in the top 10%?
The median family in the top 10% is worth about $4.9 million. Families between the 75th and 90th percentile have a median of about $1.27 million.
Which age group has the highest net worth?
In the 2025 survey, families aged 75 and older had the highest median net worth: $504,900.
Why did young people’s net worth drop?
The Federal Reserve attributes most of the 23% decline among under-35 families to the reversal of business equity gains they made between 2019 and 2022.
How often is this data updated?
The Survey of Consumer Finances is published every three years. The next edition, covering 2028, is expected in late 2029.