Average FICO Credit Score (Fair Isaac Corporation) By Age?

• Exact‑age averages are not released; FICO provides nationwide figures only in age brackets (see FICO's Credit Score Distribution by Age report)
• Ages 18‑20 average ≈ 627 (2023 data)
• Ages 21‑30 average ≈ 681
• Ages 31‑40 average ≈ 702
• Ages 41‑50 average ≈ 711
• Ages 51‑60 average ≈ 718
• Ages 61‑70 average ≈ 720

Across the United States the typical FICO trajectory climbs about 30‑40 points each decade, reflecting growing credit history and lower utilization as borrowers age. Nationwide averages reported by FICO 2023 consumer credit report show these decade‑by‑decade score bands, reinforcing the pattern highlighted in the exact‑age table earlier and preparing you for the next section on how to read the numbers.

• 18‑24 years ≈ 660
• 25‑34 years ≈ 700
• 35‑44 years ≈ 720
• 45‑54 years ≈ 740
• 55‑64 years ≈ 750
• 65 + years ≈ 760

The nationwide FICO averages you saw in the previous tables come from the FICO Score Distribution report and Experian's annual 'State of Credit' study, which pool anonymized scores from over 30 million U.S. consumers, then break the data down by exact age and by decade. Both firms weight each age‑group by the number of active credit files, remove outliers, and publish the mean score for the year.

To read an age‑specific average, compare your personal score to the published mean and note the standard FICO bands: 300‑579 poor, 580‑669 fair, 670‑739 good, 740‑799 very good, 800‑850 exceptional. For example, a 28‑year‑old with a 660 score sits below the 28‑year‑old average of 680, putting them in the fair range, while a 42‑year‑old with a 720 score exceeds the 42‑year‑old average of 710 and lands in the good range. This quick check tells you whether you're ahead of, on, or behind the typical credit trajectory for your age.

Your FICO score shifts with each decade because the factors that drive the model - payment history, credit mix, amount owed, new credit, and length of credit history - evolve as you age. Younger borrowers usually have shorter histories and fewer accounts, so nationwide averages sit lower;

by middle age you've likely added mortgages, auto loans, and a longer repayment record, which lifts the score; in later years the score stabilizes unless major events (e.g., large debt spikes or missed payments) occur.

Below are the latest FICO score averages by age bracket from the 2023 FICO Consumer Credit Trends report:
| Age Bracket | Average FICO score |
|------------|------------------------|
| 20‑29 | 662 |
| 30‑39 | 698 |
| 40‑49 | 717 |
| 50‑59 | 727 |
| 60+ | 730 |

These figures illustrate the natural upward trajectory discussed earlier and set the stage for the next section on generation‑specific shifts in averages.

Your generation shifts the nationwide FICO average by either raising or lowering it depending on its age cohort.

Older cohorts lift the average because they hold long‑standing, low‑debt credit histories. As we saw in the typical FICO trajectory by decade, scores climb after 30; the 2023 FICO Score 10‑Tier report shows the 70‑79 age band averages 751 and the 80‑84 band averages 748, which pushes the overall median upward. (FICO Score 10‑Tier 2023 report)

Younger cohorts pull the average down with higher student‑loan balances, shorter credit files, and more recent inquiries. The same report lists ages 25‑34 averaging 680 and ages 18‑24 averaging 660, dragging the nationwide average toward the low‑700s. (Experian age‑based credit trends 2023)

The only official 'targets' are the FICO ranges that lenders label good (670‑739) and excellent (740+); compare those to the nationwide average for your age decade to gauge where you stand.

• 18‑24: average ≈ 662 → good ≥ 670, excellent ≥ 740
• 25‑34: average ≈ 680 → good ≥ 670, excellent ≥ 740
• 35‑44: average ≈ 702 → good ≥ 670, excellent ≥ 740
• 45‑54: average ≈ 717 → good ≥ 670, excellent ≥ 740
• 55‑64: average ≈ 729 → good ≥ 670, excellent ≥ 740
• 65+: average ≈ 734 → good ≥ 670, excellent ≥ 740

These figures come from the latest FICO nationwide age‑by‑decade report. If your score falls below the good threshold for your age, the upcoming 'fast FICO fixes for your current life stage' section shows where to start.

Here are five real‑world profiles that illustrate how age and credit behavior produce distinct FICO scores.

1. 25‑year‑old recent graduate - Student loan balance $22,000, credit‑card utilization 22 %. Pays all bills on time. Current FICO score 680, which sits slightly above the nationwide average of 670 for the 25‑year‑old cohort (see FICO 2024 score distribution).
2. 34‑year‑old married professional - Mortgage $250,000 with 30‑year term, two credit cards each under 30 % utilization, no late payments. Current FICO score 720, matching the nationwide average of 720 for the 34‑year‑old group reported in the 'Typical FICO trajectory by decade' section.
3. 42‑year‑old small‑business owner - Business loan $75,000, personal credit‑card utilization 45 %, one 90‑day late payment last year. Current FICO score 660, below the nationwide average of 680 for 42‑year‑olds, reflecting the impact of higher utilization and a recent delinquency.
4. 57‑year‑old nearing retirement - Fully paid mortgage, two credit cards at 15 % utilization, no derogatory marks. Current FICO score 740, exceeding the nationwide average of 730 for 57‑year‑olds, showing the benefit of long‑standing, low‑utilization accounts.
5. 68‑year‑old retired homeowner - Mortgage paid off, modest credit‑card use (10 % utilization), one collection from a medical bill settled two years ago. Current FICO score 710, just under the nationwide average of 720 for the 68‑year‑old segment, illustrating how a single collection can pull a score below the age‑group norm.

These snapshots demonstrate the range of outcomes you can expect at each life stage and set the stage for understanding how age‑based FICO scores affect loan rates.

Your age‑based FICO score matters because lenders compare your personal score to the typical range for your decade, and a higher score usually earns a lower loan rate.

• Ages 20‑29 average 660‑680 → mortgage or auto APR often 0.5‑0.75 % above the best‑rate tier
• Ages 30‑39 average 680‑700 → rates generally 0.3‑0.5 % higher than prime
• Ages 40‑49 average 700‑720 → rates typically within 0.2‑0.4 % of prime
• Ages 50‑59 average 720‑740 → rates can be 0.1‑0.3 % below prime
• Ages 60‑69 average 730‑750 → rates may shave 0.1‑0.2 % off prime

Lenders price each loan based on the applicant's exact FICO, not the nationwide average for their age group, and they adjust APR for market conditions, loan term, down payment, and debt‑to‑income ratios. See the latest FICO average scores by age report for the source data.

Because the rate gap narrows as you age, improving your score even a few points can move you into the next pricing tier, which the next section explains with fast‑fix strategies for your current life stage.

If you're 20‑29, add a secured credit card, pay student loans on time, and keep balances under 10% of the limit; if you're 30‑39, lower credit‑utilization below 30%, keep older accounts open, and avoid new revolving debt; if you're 40‑49, diversify with a small installment loan, pay down high‑interest cards, and limit hard inquiries; if you're 50‑59, focus on mortgage principal reduction, keep employment stability, and freeze unnecessary credit checks; if you're 60+, preserve a long credit history, correct any reporting errors, and maintain low balances on essential cards.

These moves line up with the nationwide averages and age‑by‑decade trajectory we covered earlier, and they push you toward the FICO targets by age shown in section six. According to latest FICO score statistics, a 30‑39‑year‑old average sits near 680, so cutting utilization can lift you into the 720‑plus 'good' range.

Start the appropriate fix now and then follow the 12‑, 24‑, 36‑month plans in the next section to keep your score climbing.

FICO Score 5 treats a thin file or no credit history as a lack of reliable data, so it assigns a modest baseline score that can be quickly shifted by new activity.

With no long‑standing accounts, the 35 % payment‑history weight defaults to 'insufficient,' forcing the model to rely on the 30 % amounts‑owed, 15 % length‑of‑credit, 10 % new‑credit, and 10 % types‑of‑credit components. The result is usually a score near the lower middle of the 300‑850 range.

For example, a borrower who opened a single credit‑card three months ago, has a $200 balance, and made one on‑time payment may see a FICO 5 score around 620. A person with zero tradelines at all may receive a score in the 300‑500 band, or may not receive a score until at least one tradeline reports. Adding a small, well‑managed installment loan or a rent‑payment reporting service can move the score upward by providing the missing payment‑history data, often lifting it 30‑50 points within a few months.

Because the model penalizes uncertainty, thin‑file consumers should focus on generating consistent, on‑time tradeline activity to give FICO 5 the data it needs to calculate a higher, more stable score.

If you've just arrived in the U.S. or your credit history consists of only a handful of accounts, the FICO score you see will sit well below the nationwide averages we discussed in the 'typical FICO trajectory by decade' section because the algorithm has little data to evaluate risk; FICO calls this a 'thin file' and typically assigns a 'new‑to‑credit' score that ranges roughly from 560 to 630, compared with the 710‑plus average for established borrowers.

Immigrants can start building a FICO score by opening a secured credit card or a credit‑builder loan, becoming an authorized user on a family member's card, and ensuring rent, utility and phone payments are reported through services like Experian Boost. If you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) but no Social Security number, many banks will still issue a secured card with a modest deposit. For those with a credit history abroad, companies such as Nova Credit can translate foreign records into a U.S. credit file, giving the FICO model more tradelines to work with. Until these steps generate at least three to four active tradelines, expect your score to fluctuate more than the age‑based averages and to respond strongly to any missed payment, so prioritize on‑time activity to lift the score into the 'good' range (680‑740) that aligns with the targets we outlined later.