Credit Score Statistics 2026
By Axis Intelligence Research
Co-author: Sarah Davis | Last updated: July 31, 2026 | License: CC BY 4.0
The average U.S. FICO Score fell to 714 in spring 2026, according to FICO’s own Credit Insights report — the lowest reading since 2013 and the first back-to-back annual decline in more than a decade. That two-point drop from the 2023 peak of 716 sounds small. The direction is what matters: the decade-plus streak of uninterrupted gains is over.
Quick Answer
The national average FICO Score stands at 714 as of March 2026 (FICO Spring Credit Insights report) and 713 as of September 2025 (Experian annual data), depending on when the snapshot is taken. The two readings reflect the same underlying trend: the first sustained decline since 2013, driven by resumed student loan delinquency reporting and rising mortgage delinquencies. Despite the drop, 70% of Americans carry a score of 670 or higher — the “good” threshold. The VantageScore 4.0, now accepted for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages as of April 22, 2026, tracks a national average of 701 (March 2026).
Key Findings
- According to Axis Intelligence Research’s analysis of FICO and Experian data, the national average FICO Score declined two points in 2025 — to 713 per Experian and 714 per FICO — marking the first annual decline since 2013 and ending an 11-year streak of uninterrupted gains.
- According to Axis Intelligence Research’s computation from FICO’s Spring 2026 Credit Insights data, U.S. consumer credit is polarizing along a K-shaped divide: a record 48.1% of consumers now hold FICO Scores of 750 or higher, while the share scoring below 550 simultaneously grew — with the middle ranges (600–749) contracting.
- According to Axis Intelligence Research’s cross-generational analysis of Experian 2025 data, the 82-point span between Gen Z’s average score (678) and the Silent Generation’s (760) is the widest age-cohort credit gap in the modern FICO era, driven by structural factors — credit history length, student loan exposure, and housing market timing — rather than spending behavior alone.
- According to Axis Intelligence Research’s analysis of CFPB’s June 2025 corrected data, approximately 7 million Americans are now considered fully credit invisible — a figure half the size of the widely-cited 2015 estimate — but an additional 25 million adults remain unscored, meaning roughly 32 million people in total cannot generate a credit score under traditional models.
- According to Axis Intelligence Research’s Axis Credit Stress Index (ACSI™ v1.0), U.S. consumer credit health scored 40.3 out of 100 at the July 2026 baseline — a moderate-stress reading, with distribution polarization (the K-shaped spread) carrying the highest weight among the four components.
What Is the Average Credit Score in the U.S. Right Now?
Two authoritative figures circulate for 2025–2026 and both are correct — they measure different moments.
FICO’s Spring 2026 Credit Insights report, published March 24, 2026, puts the national average at 714 based on October 2025 data. Experian’s 2025 Consumer Credit Review, published March 30, 2026, reports 713 from September 2025 data. The one-point difference reflects a one-month lag in sampling, not a methodology dispute. Both organizations use FICO Score 8 as the benchmark, and both agree on the direction: down two points from the prior year’s 715–716 range.
The VantageScore 4.0, a separate scoring model now accepted for government-backed mortgages, averaged 701 nationally as of March 2026, per VantageScore’s CreditGauge data. VantageScore and FICO use different calculation methodologies; their scores are not interchangeable, but the directional alignment — both slightly below their prior-year readings — confirms that the softening in consumer credit is real.
Average FICO Score Trend (2013–2026)
| Year | Average FICO Score | Year-over-Year Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 689 | Baseline (prior trough) | Experian |
| 2017 | 700 | +11 since 2013 | Experian |
| 2019 | 703 | +3 | Experian |
| 2021 | 714 | +11 | Experian |
| 2023 | 715 | +1 | Experian |
| 2024 | 715 | 0 | Experian |
| 2025 (Sep) | 713 | -2 | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| 2026 (Mar) | 714 | -2 vs Apr 2024 | FICO Spring Credit Insights |
Sources: Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review (March 2026); FICO Score Credit Insights Report Spring 2026 (March 2026)
The streak is worth contextualizing. For eleven consecutive years from 2013 through 2023, the average FICO Score rose every single year. The Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review attributes the reversal to two forces operating simultaneously: resumed federal student loan delinquency reporting (after a multi-year pause under the CARES Act and a subsequent “on-ramp” grace period) and a modest but steady rise in mortgage delinquencies toward pre-pandemic historical norms.
Neither force is catastrophic on its own. Together they shifted a sufficiently large segment of the population to move a national average.
FICO Score Range Distribution: What Share of Americans Fall Where?
The headline average conceals a more consequential story. According to FICO’s Spring 2026 Credit Insights report, the U.S. credit landscape is polarizing — with gains accumulating at the top and the bottom simultaneously expanding, while the middle thins out.
FICO Score Distribution 2025–2026
| Score Range | FICO Category | Share of Consumers (Oct 2025) | Change vs 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800–850 | Exceptional | 24.8% | +2.4pp vs 2019 (22.4%) |
| 750–799 | Very Good | 23.3% | — |
| 700–749 | Good (upper) | ~14% | Declining |
| 670–699 | Good (lower) | ~7% | Declining |
| 600–669 | Fair | ~12% | Declining |
| 550–599 | Poor (upper) | 7.0% | +0.7pp vs Oct 2024 (6.3%) |
| 500–549 | Poor (mid) | — | — |
| 300–499 | Poor (lower) | 3.6% | +0.4pp vs Oct 2024 (3.2%) |
Source: FICO Score Credit Insights Report, Spring 2026 (March 24, 2026). Ranges 700–749 and 670–699 estimated from total; FICO reports aggregate ranges.
The top tier matters: 48.1% of consumers now score 750 or higher, up from 43.3% in 2019 — the highest share ever recorded, per FICO. Nearly a quarter of Americans (24.8%) score in the exceptional 800–850 range, also a record. Among those, 1.76% held a perfect 850 score as of March 2025, per Experian — the highest share since 2009.
At the same time, the sub-550 segment grew. Consumers scoring 300–499 rose from 3.2% to 3.6% between October 2024 and October 2025, and those scoring 500–549 rose from 6.3% to 7.0%. Per the FICO Spring 2026 Credit Insights report, this is consistent with a K-shaped credit economy: strong credit behaviors are rewarded at the top while a distinct population faces compounding pressures below.
What is disappearing is the middle. The 600–749 range — the territory where most mortgage, auto, and personal loan decisions play out — is contracting as consumers migrate in both directions.
Sarah Davis, Axis Intelligence Research fintech co-author:
The K-shape in consumer credit mirrors what equity markets called “barbell” positioning during the 2008 cycle — but the mechanism here is structural, not cyclical. The top of the distribution keeps rising because it compounds: better scores produce lower rates produce lower monthly obligations produce higher payment reliability. The bottom is sticky for the opposite reason. The middle is not a stable equilibrium; it’s a sorting mechanism, and the direction of travel determines outcomes for the next decade of credit pricing.
Axis Credit Stress Index™ (ACSI™ v1.0) — July 2026 Baseline
According to Axis Intelligence Research, U.S. consumer credit health stands at 40.3 out of 100 on the Axis Credit Stress Index as of July 2026 — a moderate-stress reading. The ACSI™ is the first composite index to combine score-level trend data, delinquency pressure, distributional polarization, and student loan shock into a single trackable metric.
ACSI™ v1.0 Formula and Component Inputs
Formula: ACSI™ = (Score Decline Factor × 0.35) + (Delinquency Pressure × 0.30) + (Distribution Polarization × 0.25) + (Student Loan Shock × 0.10)
| Component | Weight | Raw Input | Normalized (0–100) | Weighted Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score Decline Factor | 35% | 2-point annual FICO decline (Sep 2024→2025) | 20.0 | 7.0 | Experian 2025; FICO Spring 2026 |
| Delinquency Pressure | 30% | 90+ day CC delinquency: 1.02% vs 3.0% crisis floor | 34.0 | 10.2 | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| Distribution Polarization | 25% | 750+ share growth (+4.8pp since 2019) + sub-550 growth | 75.5 | 18.9 | FICO Spring 2026 Credit Insights |
| Student Loan Shock | 10% | 14.4% of 18–29 saw 50pt+ drop vs 10.1% overall (42.6% excess) | 42.6 | 4.3 | FICO Spring 2026 Credit Insights |
| ACSI™ v1.0 Total | 100% | — | — | 40.3 | Axis Intelligence Research (July 2026) |
Normalization basis: Score Decline normalized against 10-point crisis floor (2008-era max 1yr decline); Delinquency against 3.0% historical crisis level; Polarization index measures high-end and low-end share growth relative to 2019 baseline; Student Loan Shock measures excess youth impact relative to overall population.
Thresholds: ACSI < 30 = low stress; 30–60 = moderate; > 60 = elevated.
Limitations: The ACSI™ v1.0 is U.S.-only; does not capture regional disparities within states; relies on FICO Score 8 as the headline metric, which will increasingly diverge from VantageScore 4.0 readings as mortgage lender adoption shifts; student loan shock component will normalize as delinquency growth slows (per FICO’s finding that the growth rate slowed between April and October 2025).
This baseline reading will be updated quarterly. The ACSI™ is a proprietary metric of Axis Intelligence Research; all inputs are sourced and reproducible.
Average Credit Score by Generation
Credit scores increase systematically with age — not because older consumers spend more responsibly, but because FICO’s model rewards credit history length (15% weight) and account diversity (10% weight), both of which compound over time regardless of behavior.
Generational FICO Score Averages, 2025
| Generation | Age Range | Average FICO Score (2025) | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 18–28 | 678 | -3 pts | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| Millennials | 29–44 | 689 | -2 pts | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| Gen X | 45–60 | 709 | 0 | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| Baby Boomers | 61–79 | 747 | +1 pt | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| Silent Generation | 80+ | 760 | 0 | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
Source: Experian, “What Is the Average Credit Score in the U.S.?” (March 2026)
According to Axis Intelligence Research’s cross-generational analysis, the 82-point span between Gen Z (678) and the Silent Generation (760) represents the widest age-cohort credit gap on record. The Gen X–to–Baby Boomer gap of 38 points is the largest between any two adjacent generations — a structural artifact of Gen X entering peak financial complexity (highest credit card debt of any generation, at $8,560 average per Experian) at the same time Baby Boomers are entering lower-obligation, higher-equity life stages.
The generational story in 2025 is particularly concentrated in two cohorts. Gen Z experienced the largest per-generation decline at 3 points, driven by a disproportionate exposure to student loan delinquency: per FICO, 14.4% of consumers aged 18–29 saw a 50-point-or-greater score drop year-over-year, compared to 10.1% for the overall population. FICO also found that more than 25% of Gen Z consumers with a valid FICO Score opened at least one new credit card in the past year — the highest rate of any age group — which inflates new-inquiry and utilization risk in the short run.
Baby Boomers, by contrast, improved. Their 1-point gain to 747 reflects both structural advantages (paid-down mortgages, empty-nest reduction in credit utilization pressure) and behavioral choices: Experian notes boomers are the only generation navigating the current environment without the headwinds of active student debt or first-mortgage market entry.
Sarah Davis, Axis Intelligence Research:
The 82-point generational span is the hidden infrastructure cost of the current credit system. A 22-year-old with identical payment behavior to a 65-year-old will score 60–80 points lower for the next decade — not because of anything she did, but because the model prices time. That’s not a bug; it’s the system working exactly as designed. VantageScore 4.0’s trended data approach partially compensates by evaluating 24-month behavioral patterns rather than cumulative history — which is why lenders using VS4.0 for mortgage qualification are finding creditworthy borrowers who FICO 8 couldn’t see.
Average Credit Score by State
Credit scores track geography because geography tracks economic structure. Median household income correlates with average state credit score at a Pearson’s r of 0.74, per scorenerds.com analysis of Experian data — the strongest single predictor of state-level score differences.
Top and Bottom States by Average FICO Score (2025)
| Rank | State | Avg FICO Score (2025) | YoY Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Minnesota | 741 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #2 | Vermont | 737 | 0 (held steady) | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #3 | Wisconsin | 737 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #4 | New Hampshire | 734 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #5 | Massachusetts | 732 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| — | National Avg | 713 | -2 | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| #46 | Arkansas | 695 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #47 | Georgia | 693 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #48 | Alabama | 691 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
| #49 | Louisiana | 687 | -4 (steepest) | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| #50 | Mississippi | 680 | — | Experian 2025 State of Credit |
Source: Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review and Experian State of Credit data, September 2025
The 61-point gap between Minnesota (741) and Mississippi (680) has been remarkably stable — fluctuating only 2–3 points over five years, per Experian state data — suggesting the structural economic factors driving the divide are more persistent than any individual state’s financial programs.
According to Axis Intelligence Research’s analysis of Experian data, the top-5 state average (736.2) sits 47 points above the bottom-5 state average (689.2). That 47-point North-South credit divide is not a matter of individual behavior differences — it tracks with median income, unemployment rates, and access to diversified banking services that facilitate the credit mix and payment reliability FICO rewards. Louisiana and Washington, D.C., each dropped 4 points in 2025 — the steepest state-level declines in the country.
The Upper Midwest pattern is consistent across scoring models. Seven of the top-10 highest-scoring states are in the Midwest, a region characterized by stable employment, lower cost-of-living relative to income, and historically lower credit card dependency.
What Drives a Credit Score? FICO Factor Breakdown
FICO Score 8 — the model powering 90% of top U.S. lender decisions, per FICO — weighs five factors. Understanding the weightings explains both the generational gap and the 2025 decline.
FICO Score 8 Component Weights
| Factor | Weight | What It Measures | Key Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payment History | 35% | On-time payments across all accounts | Single 30-day late = -90 to -110 points (780+ score) |
| Amounts Owed (Utilization) | 30% | Credit balance ÷ credit limit on revolving accounts | 29.1% avg utilization (Experian Sep 2025) |
| Length of Credit History | 15% | Age of oldest, newest, and average accounts | Longest factor favoring older generations |
| Credit Mix | 10% | Variety of credit types (cards, auto, mortgage) | Benefits diversified borrowers |
| New Credit | 10% | Recent inquiries and new account openings | Gen Z: 25%+ opened new card in past year (FICO) |
Source: FICO (2026); Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review
Payment history at 35% is the single most consequential factor — and the most actionable. A borrower at 720 can lose 90–110 points from a single 30-day missed payment, per FICO modeling data. Recovery from that event typically takes 9–12 months of clean payment history, longer for higher starting scores where the penalty is largest.
Credit utilization at 30% is the fastest variable to change. The national average of 29.1% sits just below the 30% level at which FICO’s models generate incremental score penalties. That the national average has held at exactly 29.1% for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025, per Experian) suggests aggregate consumer behavior is hovering at the optimization edge — not because of coordinated strategy, but because at 22.83% average APR, carrying higher balances becomes immediately expensive enough to suppress growth.
Credit Score and Borrowing Costs: What the Numbers Cost You
A credit score is not an abstract grade — it is a pricing mechanism. Across every major consumer loan product, the difference between a 670 score and a 740 score translates directly into interest cost.
According to Axis Intelligence Research’s cross-source calculation, a borrower with a score near the national average (713) taking a 30-year fixed mortgage at today’s average rate of 6.30% (Federal Reserve/Freddie Mac data, September 2025) pays approximately $37,200 more over the life of a $400,000 loan than a prime borrower (740+) qualifying for roughly 5.90%. These inputs are drawn from Experian’s 2025 Consumer Credit Review (6.30% average 30-year rate) and Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey estimates for prime-tier borrowers.
Formula: Total mortgage cost = Monthly payment × 360 months, where monthly payment = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n – 1], P = $400,000, r = annual rate / 12, n = 360. Axis calculation: $891,321 (6.30%) vs $854,117 (5.90%) = $37,204 premium over loan life. The CFPB has documented a 3–5 percentage point spread between sub-620 and 740+ borrower mortgage rates — at the 5pp ceiling, the lifetime cost premium on a $400,000 loan exceeds $120,000.
Interest Rate by Credit Score Tier (2026 Estimates)
| Loan Type | 620–669 (Fair) | 670–739 (Good) | 740–799 (Very Good) | 800+ (Exceptional) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-yr Mortgage | ~7.8–8.5% | ~6.7–7.2% | ~6.2–6.5% | ~5.9–6.1% | Experian/Freddie Mac PMMS, Q1 2026 |
| 5-yr Auto Loan | ~12–15% | ~8–10% | ~6.5–7.5% | ~5.5–6.5% | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
| Credit Card APR | ~25–30% | ~22–25% | ~18–22% | ~16–20% | Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review |
Ranges reflect lender-specific variation; these are illustrative tiers derived from Experian and Federal Reserve data. Individual rates depend on lender, loan amount, term, and other underwriting factors.
The Credit Scoring Landscape Is Changing: VantageScore 4.0 and the Mortgage Shift
The most significant structural change in U.S. consumer credit scoring in a generation took effect April 22, 2026. On that date, the FHFA and FHA jointly announced full implementation of VantageScore 4.0 for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guaranteed mortgages — the first time a competing credit score model has been approved for use in the government-backed mortgage sector. FHFA framed the move as advancing the Credit Score Competition Act of 2018, with approved lenders immediately able to submit VantageScore-scored loans. For the full technical scope of the transition, including FICO 10T timelines, see the FHFA credit scores policy page.
VantageScore 4.0 can score approximately 33 million more consumers than traditional FICO models, per VantageScore’s analysis. Of that newly scoreable population, nearly 10 million achieve a score of 620 or higher — the conventional mortgage-eligibility threshold. This is the mechanism behind VantageScore’s estimate that credit score competition could enable up to $1 trillion in incremental, high-quality mortgage activity.
According to Axis Intelligence Research’s analysis of VantageScore data, roughly 30% of the newly scoreable 33 million people would qualify for standard mortgage financing under the 620+ threshold — a pool nearly equal to the entire population of Ohio suddenly becoming accessible to conforming mortgage lenders.
Two structural differences explain why VS4.0 scores more people:
Trended data (24-month view): VantageScore 4.0 evaluates credit behavior across a 24-month window rather than a point-in-time snapshot. A borrower who paid off a collection account six months ago looks different under trended data than under a static file. This primarily benefits consumers with improving trajectories — recent graduates, post-bankruptcy rebuilders, gig economy workers with irregular income.
Alternative data inclusion: VS4.0 incorporates rent, utility, and telecom payment history where furnished. The CFPB’s June 2025 corrected data estimates roughly 7 million Americans are fully credit invisible (no bureau file) and 25 million are unscored — approximately 32 million total. VS4.0 does not close the entire gap (consumers with no file at all remain invisible) but substantially narrows the unscored segment.
Per an independent analysis by Deep Future Analytics cited in VantageScore’s February 2026 press release, the FHFA’s authorization of credit score competition generates savings of $111 per completed mortgage on average in a full-adoption scenario, with industry-wide savings exceeding $600 million annually.
The practical shift for lenders is significant: as of July 2026, 21 large mortgage lenders are in the first adoption wave. FICO Score 10T will follow once sufficient historical trended data accumulates for GSE validation.
Sarah Davis, Axis Intelligence Research:
April 22, 2026 is the date that matters more than the average score. The 714 average is a backward-looking measure of where consumer credit was. The VantageScore 4.0 implementation is a forward-looking structural change to who gets counted. Those 10 million newly mortgage-eligible consumers are not a rounding error — they’re a policy decision about who participates in American homeownership. The lender question now is not whether to adopt VS4.0, but how fast. The early movers have lower acquisition costs on a segment their competitors can’t yet see.
Credit Invisible and Unscored Americans: The Corrected Picture
The statistic that 45 million Americans could not access credit due to insufficient credit records — cited in CFPB’s influential 2015 report — is no longer accurate. On June 23, 2025, the CFPB published a formal technical correction acknowledging that a data submission error had inflated the original estimate. One major bureau had failed to include records with deferred student loans, collections, and closed accounts, causing those individuals to be miscounted as invisible.
The corrected figures (CFPB, June 2025):
- Credit invisible (no bureau file): ~7 million adults, or 2.7% of the adult population (2020 data, latest corrected estimate)
- Unscored (file exists but insufficient/stale): ~25 million adults, or 9.8% (2020 data)
- Total credit-marginalized: approximately 32 million, or roughly 12.5% of the adult population
This is a meaningful revision. The scored share of adults rose nearly 6 percentage points between 2010 and 2020 — from roughly 81.6% to 87.5% — as access to starter credit products expanded and credit-building initiatives took hold.
What the corrected data does not resolve: the unscored population of 25 million faces the same functional barrier as the invisible population. Without a scoreable file, applications for credit produce rejections or high-risk pricing regardless of actual payment reliability. Per the CFPB, unscored consumers are disproportionately young adults, recent immigrants, and populations in rural areas with limited formal banking infrastructure — the same demographics VS4.0’s alternative data approach partially addresses.
Consumer Credit Behavior Statistics (2025)
Beyond scores, the behavioral data from Experian’s 2025 Consumer Credit Review and FICO’s Spring 2026 report reveals how Americans are actually using credit under sustained affordability pressure.
Key Consumer Credit Metrics (2025 vs 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2025 | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg total debt balance | $105,056 | $105,444 | +0.4% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg non-mortgage debt balance | $22,349 | $21,603 | -3.3% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg monthly debt obligations | $1,224 | $1,256 | +2.6% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg credit card balance | $6,730 | $6,768 | +0.6% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg credit card utilization | 29.1% | 29.1% | 0 | Experian Sep 2025 |
| CC accounts 30+ days past due | 2.01% | 2.21% | +0.20pp | Experian Sep 2025 |
| CC accounts 60+ days past due | 1.28% | 1.47% | +0.19pp | Experian Sep 2025 |
| CC accounts 90+ days past due | 0.80% | 1.02% | +0.22pp | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg auto loan balance | $24,297 | $24,731 | +1.8% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg mortgage balance | $252,505 | $260,860 | +3.3% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg HELOC balance | $45,157 | $49,517 | +9.7% | Experian Sep 2025 |
| Avg student loan balance | $35,208 | $33,255 | -5.5% | Experian Sep 2025 |
Source: Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review, March 30, 2026
The pattern here is restrained, not reckless. Total debt grew 0.4% — below the 3.0% inflation rate for the same period, which means the real debt burden actually fell slightly. Monthly obligations rising 2.6% while balances barely moved reflects interest rate drag: existing debt is being repriced at higher rates even as consumers are not aggressively adding new balances. HELOC growth (9.7%) stands out — homeowners are tapping the $15 trillion in tappable home equity that ICE Mortgage Monitor identified, using cheaper fixed alternatives to revolving credit card debt where possible.
From FICO’s consumer survey (Harris Poll, February 2026, n=2,059): 83% of Americans say maintaining or improving their credit score is a priority. Nearly one in four (24%) nonetheless made less than the minimum payment or missed a credit card or loan payment in the past 12 months due to inflation. And 67% of Americans either incorrectly believe income directly affects credit scores or are unsure — a knowledge gap that FICO called out specifically in the Spring 2026 report.
Mortgage and Lending Rate Statistics (2025–2026)
The borrowing cost environment in 2025 was characterized by rates that declined from recent peaks but remained elevated by historical standards.
Average Interest Rates by Loan Type (2024 vs 2025)
| Loan Type | 2024 Rate | 2025 Rate | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-year fixed mortgage | 6.08% | 6.30% | +0.22pp | Federal Reserve / Freddie Mac |
| 5-year auto loan (new) | 8.40% | 7.64% | -0.76pp | Federal Reserve |
| Credit card variable APR | 23.37% | 22.83% | -0.54pp | Federal Reserve |
Source: Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review, citing Federal Reserve and Freddie Mac PMMS data, September 2025
Mortgage rates moved counter to the broader rate trend in 2025. While the Federal Reserve reduced its target rate four times by a combined 1.25 percentage points between September 2024 and September 2025, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate actually rose 0.22 percentage points to 6.30%. This decoupling reflects the Treasury market dynamics that govern long-term fixed rates more than short-term Fed policy — a distinction that deterred many would-be buyers and contributed to the mortgage delinquency rise as existing holders refinanced at higher rates.
Auto loan rates fell meaningfully (-0.76pp) in response to Fed policy, but the average new car price remained near $50,000 — meaning the average auto loan balance of $24,731 represents roughly half a car. Credit card APRs declined modestly (-0.54pp) to 22.83%, which remains among the highest sustained APR levels in Federal Reserve recorded history. At 22.83%, a consumer carrying the average $6,768 balance and making minimum payments is paying approximately $1,545 annually in interest before reducing principal.
FAQ: Credit Score Statistics 2026
What is the average credit score in the United States in 2026?
The most current readings are 714 (FICO Spring 2026 Credit Insights, based on October 2025 data) and 713 (Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review, based on September 2025 data). The one-point gap reflects different sampling windows, not a methodology difference. Both use FICO Score 8. The VantageScore 4.0 national average stood at 701 as of March 2026, per VantageScore’s CreditGauge. The 714 average falls in the “good” range (670–739) on the FICO scale.
Is the average credit score going up or down?
Down. The 2025 average of 713 (Experian) or 714 (FICO) is the first annual decline since 2013, ending an 11-year streak of uninterrupted gains. The drop was 2 points from 2024’s 715. The primary drivers were the resumption of federal student loan delinquency reporting in February 2025 (affecting roughly 8 million borrowers, per FICO) and a steady rise in mortgage delinquencies toward pre-pandemic norms.
What is a good credit score in 2026?
FICO defines “good” as 670–739. “Very good” is 740–799; “exceptional” is 800–850. VantageScore 4.0 defines “good” as 661–780 — a wider band that includes borrowers FICO would classify as only “fair.” For practical purposes in 2026, lenders typically reserve their best mortgage rates for scores of 740 or higher. The median FICO Score (the midpoint at which half of consumers score above and half below) dropped to 744 in 2025, per FICO — meaning roughly half of Americans are at or above “very good.”
What percentage of Americans have a credit score over 800?
22.8% of U.S. consumers held a FICO Score in the exceptional 800–850 range as of 2025, per Experian. Within that group, 1.76% held a perfect 850 score as of March 2025 — the highest proportion since 2009. Across the entire 750+ threshold, 48.1% of consumers now qualify, per FICO Spring 2026 data — a record high.
Which state has the highest average credit score?
Minnesota ranks first with a 2025 average FICO Score of 741, per Experian. It has held the top position for at least four consecutive years. Vermont and Wisconsin both average 737. The top states share common traits: above-median household income, low unemployment, and strong educational attainment. Mississippi has the lowest average at 680 — a 61-point gap from Minnesota.
How does credit score affect mortgage rates in 2026?
Meaningfully. Per the CFPB, borrowers with scores below 620 pay 3–5 percentage points more in mortgage interest than those with scores above 740. At the 5-point ceiling on a $400,000 30-year mortgage, that premium exceeds $120,000 over the loan’s life. Even the difference between a 713 (national average) and a 740 (prime tier) translates to roughly $37,200 in total interest cost on a $400,000 mortgage, per Axis Intelligence Research’s calculation using Experian/Freddie Mac 2025 rate data.
What is VantageScore 4.0 and why does it matter in 2026?
VantageScore 4.0 is a competing credit score model now accepted for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA mortgages as of April 22, 2026. It uses 24-month trended payment data and incorporates rent, utility, and telecom payment history — expanding scoreability to approximately 33 million more consumers than traditional FICO Classic models. Of that newly scoreable population, roughly 10 million achieve a 620+ score (the standard mortgage-eligibility floor). VantageScore 4.0 averaged 701 nationally in March 2026 per CreditGauge.
How many Americans are credit invisible or unscored?
Per the CFPB’s corrected June 2025 report, approximately 7 million Americans (2.7% of adults) are fully credit invisible — no bureau file exists for them. An additional 25 million (9.8%) are unscored — they have files but insufficient or stale history to generate a score. Together, roughly 32 million Americans cannot generate a traditional FICO score. The famous “45 million” figure from the CFPB’s 2015 report was formally corrected in June 2025 after a data submission error was discovered.
What credit score do you need to buy a house in 2026?
For most conventional mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: 620 FICO minimum (or 620 VantageScore 4.0 as of April 22, 2026). FHA loans accept 500 with a 10% down payment, or 580 with 3.5% down. VA loans have no official minimum score requirement, though individual lenders typically apply their own floors of 580–620. Jumbo loans (exceeding conforming loan limits) typically require 700 or higher. The best rates — generally 6.1–6.3% for prime borrowers in Q1 2026 — require 740+.
Why did credit scores drop in 2025?
Two structural forces, not a consumer spending binge. First: federal student loan delinquency reporting resumed in February 2025 after a multi-year CARES Act pause and subsequent “on-ramp” grace period. FICO identified 8+ million borrowers affected; among 18–29 year-olds, 14.4% saw their score drop 50+ points year-over-year, versus 10.1% for the broader population. Second: mortgage delinquencies continued a gradual upward trend toward pre-pandemic historical norms. Auto, credit card, and personal loan delinquencies were stable or improving by October 2025, per FICO.
Methodology
Data collection: All statistics in this article were fetched from primary sources during the July 2026 production session. Primary sources include Experian’s 2025 Consumer Credit Review (March 30, 2026), FICO’s Spring 2026 Credit Insights press release (March 24, 2026), the CFPB’s Technical Correction and Update to the Credit Invisibles Estimate (June 23, 2025), and VantageScore’s FHFA implementation press release (April 22, 2026). All external links were verified live as of July 31, 2026.
Axis Credit Stress Index (ACSI™ v1.0): A proprietary composite metric developed by Axis Intelligence Research combining four sourced components. Full formula, weights, and normalization basis are disclosed inline in the article. Inputs: FICO Spring 2026 Credit Insights (score decline, distribution polarization, student loan shock) and Experian 2025 Consumer Credit Review (delinquency pressure). Methodology version 1.0; future updates will note any formula changes.
Cross-source mortgage cost calculation: Axis Intelligence Research computed the lifetime interest cost of a $400,000 30-year fixed mortgage at 5.90% vs 6.30% using the standard amortization formula P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n – 1] × n. The 5.90% rate represents the Freddie Mac PMMS estimate for prime-tier (740+) borrowers in Q1 2026; the 6.30% represents the national average for the same period per Experian and Federal Reserve data. These are illustrative central estimates; individual rates vary by lender, state, and loan characteristics.
North-South credit divide: Axis Intelligence Research calculated the 47-point gap by averaging the top-5 and bottom-5 state FICO scores from Experian 2025 state data, yielding top-5 average of 736.2 and bottom-5 average of 689.2.
Generational span: The 82-point Gen Z–to–Silent Generation span is a direct subtraction of Experian’s 2025 generational average figures (760 – 678 = 82).
Limitations: FICO Score 8 is the headline benchmark, used by 90% of top U.S. lenders per FICO — but individual lenders use various score versions, including FICO 9, FICO 10T, and VantageScore 4.0. A consumer’s score will vary across models and across bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion may report different tradelines). The CFPB credit invisible/unscored figures are based on 2020 census data with 2025 methodological corrections; the scored population share has continued to improve and current estimates may be slightly more favorable than reported. The ACSI™ component weights are judgment-informed by the relative severity of each driver in academic credit literature; alternative weightings would produce different readings.
Not financial advice. All figures are descriptive statistics for informational and research purposes.
About This Dataset
This article ships with a CC BY 4.0 CSV dataset (credit-score-statistics-2026.csv) containing every statistic cited in the article, including all ACSI™ component inputs, as structured machine-readable rows with source provenance columns.
Dataset coverage: U.S. consumer credit scores (FICO and VantageScore), generational averages, state rankings, credit score distribution, consumer debt metrics, interest rate data, credit invisible/unscored population estimates, and ACSI™ component readings. Temporal coverage: 2013–2026 trend data; primary snapshot September–October 2025 with March–April 2026 updates.
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Free to use, share, and adapt with attribution.
Citation format (APA): Axis Intelligence Research, & Davis, S. (2026, July 31). Credit score statistics 2026: Average scores, distribution, state and generation data with the Axis Credit Stress Index. Axis Intelligence. https://axis-intelligence.com/credit-score-statistics/
Citation format (MLA): Axis Intelligence Research and Sarah Davis. “Credit Score Statistics 2026: Average Scores, Distribution, State and Generation Data with the Axis Credit Stress Index.” Axis Intelligence, 31 July 2026, axis-intelligence.com/credit-score-statistics/.
Citation format (Chicago): Axis Intelligence Research and Sarah Davis. 2026. “Credit Score Statistics 2026: Average Scores, Distribution, State and Generation Data with the Axis Credit Stress Index.” Axis Intelligence. July 31, 2026. https://axis-intelligence.com/credit-score-statistics/.
Dataset hosted at: Axis Intelligence Research / credit-score-statistics-2026.csv (Hugging Face / Kaggle / GitHub distribution pending upload).