Average Credit Score by Age (2026): Where Do You Rank?
The average American credit score is about 715 in 2026 — squarely in the "Good" range. But it climbs steadily with age: Gen Z averages 678, while baby boomers sit at 747. The gap isn't about who's "better with money" — it's mostly credit history length, which builds automatically over time. Here's the full breakdown by generation, what counts as a good score, and how to move up. More in our Personal Finance Statistics Hub →
Average Credit Score by Generation
| Generation | Age Range | Avg. FICO Score | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 18–28 | 678 | Good |
| Millennials | 29–44 | 689 | Good |
| Gen X | 45–60 | 709 | Good |
| Baby Boomers | 61–79 | 747 | Very Good |
| Silent Generation | 80+ | 760 | Very Good |
| National average | All | ~715 | Good |
Source: Experian average FICO Score by generation (2025–2026); national average ~714–715 (FICO, 2026).
Average Credit Score by Generation — Visual
Bars are scaled from 600–800 to make the differences visible. Every generation lands in "Good" or better, but the climb with age is steady.
📌 Key Insight
The 82-point gap between Gen Z (678) and the Silent Generation (760) is almost entirely explained by time. Length of credit history and age of accounts are major scoring factors, and they only move in one direction: up, as long as you keep accounts open and pay on time. That's the encouraging part — a young person with a "thin file" isn't stuck; their score will rise automatically as their oldest accounts age, provided they avoid missed payments and high balances.
What Counts as a Good Credit Score?
Credit scores run from 300 to 850 on the FICO scale. Here's where the cutoffs fall — and why crossing 740 matters most:
| Range | Rating | What It Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | Best rates available; easy approvals |
| 740–799 | Very Good | Qualifies for top-tier rates on most loans |
| 670–739 | Good | Approved by most lenders at solid rates |
| 580–669 | Fair | Approved, but at higher interest rates |
| 300–579 | Poor | Limited options; expensive financing |
The practical target is 740. Above it, you generally qualify for a lender's best advertised rates on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. Below 670, you'll pay meaningfully more — the same car or house simply costs you more in interest.
Why Gen Z and Millennials Score Lower
Younger generations aren't worse with money — they're structurally disadvantaged on two of the five scoring factors:
- Short credit history. Age of accounts and length of history reward people who've simply been borrowing responsibly for longer.
- Higher relative balances. Early-career incomes lag behind rising costs, so credit-utilization ratios tend to run higher. Gen Z recently saw the largest score decline of any generation, dipping to around 676.
Both of these fix themselves with time and consistent habits — which is exactly why the generational curve slopes upward.
How to Raise Your Credit Score
Five factors make up a FICO score. Focus your effort where it counts most:
Track Your Score and Spending in One Place
Several top budgeting apps include free credit-score monitoring alongside spending tracking — so you can see the habits behind your score change in real time.
See the Best Budgeting Apps → Debt Payoff CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
About 715, which is in the "Good" range (670–739). Scores rise with age — Gen Z around 678, millennials 689, Gen X 709, boomers 747, and the Silent Generation 760 — largely because older consumers have longer credit histories.
By generation in 2026: Gen Z (18–28) ≈ 678; millennials (29–44) ≈ 689; Gen X (45–60) ≈ 709; baby boomers (61–79) ≈ 747; Silent Generation (80+) ≈ 760. Younger generations score lower mainly due to shorter credit histories and higher relative balances.
On the 300–850 FICO scale, 670–739 is "Good," 740–799 is "Very Good," and 800+ is "Exceptional." A score of 740 or higher unlocks the best rates on mortgages, auto loans, and cards. Below 670 you'll pay noticeably more; below 580 financing gets expensive.
Gen Z has the shortest credit history of any generation (age of accounts is a major factor) and many carry rising card balances as incomes lag costs. Gen Z recently had the largest score decline, dipping to around 676. Both issues improve with time and on-time payments.
Pay every bill on time (35% of your score), get utilization below 30% and ideally under 10%, keep old accounts open, and limit new hard inquiries. Paying down a maxed-out card can lift a score within one or two billing cycles. Free credit-monitoring apps track your progress.