Median Net Worth of American Households
The median net worth of U.S. households is around $192,000, while the average is higher, near $1.06 million, according to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances. The median is often a better measure of typical household wealth because it is less affected by the very richest households.
How Wealth Is Distributed
Wealth is unevenly distributed. The top 10% of families hold the majority of aggregate net worth, while the bottom 50% hold a much smaller share. Differences in homeownership, retirement accounts, and debt levels drive much of the gap between groups.
What Builds Net Worth Over Time
For most Americans, the main building blocks of net worth are home equity, retirement savings, and paying down debt. Stable income, consistent saving, and low-cost borrowing can help households grow their net worth over time. More details are available on the Federal Reserve website.
