Net Worth Percentile by Age

What These Numbers Actually Mean

Net worth percentile tells you what percentage of people your age have less wealth than you. A 60th percentile ranking means you have more net worth than 60% of your age group and less than 40%. It is a snapshot of relative position, not a judgment of financial health — someone in the 30th percentile with zero debt and growing savings is in a better trajectory than someone in the 70th percentile with a house they cannot afford and credit card balances climbing.

The data comes from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances, conducted every three years with approximately 6,500 households. It is the most comprehensive and reliable dataset on American wealth distribution. The numbers here are adjusted for inflation to 2026 dollars, so they reflect current purchasing power rather than historical nominal values.

Why the Median Is So Much Lower Than the Average

For every age group, the average net worth is 3-6 times higher than the median. This is because wealth distribution is heavily skewed — a small number of extremely wealthy individuals pull the average up dramatically while having no effect on the median. The median is the number where exactly half of people have more and half have less. For most people, comparing yourself to the median is far more meaningful than comparing to the average.

At age 35-44, the median net worth is approximately $135,000 while the average is $550,000. That average is inflated by a relatively small number of people with $5-50 million in assets. If you have $200,000 at age 40, you are well above the median — even though you are well below the average. The median is your real benchmark.

The Wealth Gap Is Wider Than Most People Realize

The difference between the 25th and 75th percentile at any age is staggering. At age 40, the 25th percentile household has roughly $20,000 in net worth (often just a car and a small savings account) while the 75th percentile has approximately $400,000 (typically home equity plus retirement accounts). That 20x gap comes down to a few key decisions made in the preceding 15-20 years: whether to save consistently, whether to buy a home, whether to participate in employer retirement plans, and whether to avoid high-interest consumer debt.

The compounding effect of these decisions is why early financial habits have such outsized impact. A 25-year-old who saves $300/month in an index fund reaches approximately $550,000 by age 50. A 35-year-old who starts the same habit reaches $190,000 by 50. Same behavior, same returns — just ten years less compounding creates a $360,000 gap. Starting early is the single most valuable financial advantage, and it is available to almost everyone regardless of income.

Home Equity Distorts the Picture

For most American households, home equity represents 50-70% of total net worth. This means the percentile rankings are heavily influenced by homeownership status and local real estate prices. A homeowner in San Francisco with $300,000 in equity and $50,000 in retirement accounts ($350,000 net worth) ranks higher than a renter in Kansas with $200,000 in liquid investments — despite the Kansas resident being arguably more financially flexible and secure.

When evaluating your own position, consider separating home equity from liquid/investable net worth. Your home equity is real wealth but it is not accessible without selling or borrowing. A useful exercise: calculate your percentile with and without home equity. If the gap is enormous, you may want to focus on building liquid investments that provide financial flexibility and income in retirement.

What counts as net worth?

Total assets minus total liabilities. Assets include: savings, investments, retirement accounts (401k, IRA), home value, car value, business value, and other property. Liabilities include: mortgage balance, car loans, student loans, credit card debt, and any other debts. Net worth can be negative if debts exceed assets.

Is my net worth good for my age?

If you are above the 50th percentile (median) for your age group, you have more wealth than half of Americans your age. Above the 75th percentile is strong. But trajectory matters more than current position — a 30-year-old with $20,000 and a 25% savings rate will surpass most peers within a decade.

How do I increase my net worth?

Three levers: increase income (career growth, side income), decrease spending (the most controllable lever), and invest the difference wisely (low-cost index funds for most people). Net worth grows fastest when all three are working simultaneously. Track your net worth monthly with our net worth calculator.