Net Worth by Age in the United States (2026)

There is no official line. A common yardstick is the top 10% of households, which starts at about $1.6M in the United States. The top 5% starts at about $3.1M, and the top 1% at about $11.0M.

The middle half of households in the United States hold between about $64K and $585K, with the median at about $193K.

The average (mean) household net worth in the United States is about $1.1M, well above the median of $193K. A small number of very wealthy households pull the average up, so the median is the better picture of a typical household.

A $1 million household net worth ranks around the 84.1th percentile in the United States. Put differently, about 16% of households in the United States are millionaires in US dollar terms.

A useful benchmark is the median for your age group: about $39K for ages under 35, $136K for ages 35–44, $247K for ages 45–54, $365K for ages 55–64, $410K for ages 65–74, and $336K for ages 75+. Above the median means you are ahead of most households your age.

The average (mean) household net worth is about $184K for ages under 35, $550K for ages 35–44, $976K for ages 45–54, $1.6M for ages 55–64, $1.8M for ages 65–74, and $1.6M for ages 75+. Averages run far above medians because a small number of very wealthy households pull them up.

The median household in the United States would rank around the 89.2th percentile worldwide. Joining the top 1% in the United States takes about $11.0M, compared with about $1.4M for the global top 1%.

A household. Everyone living together counts as one unit, so a couple's combined net worth is a single entry. If you are single and compare yourself with these figures, you are measured against many two-earner households, so your rank among individuals would come out somewhat higher.

Everything a household owns minus everything it owes: home equity, savings, investments, retirement accounts, and business assets, less mortgages and other debts. State pension entitlements are usually not counted.