How Your Credit Score Compares to the National Average and What It Means for You

Being aware of your credit score is an essential part of modern financial wellness, and it also helps to know how you compare to others in the U.S. and in your state.

Credit bureau Experian released data in August 2025 that revealed the average credit score across the U.S. As of September 2024, the average credit score across the country is 715.

You should know your credit score because it can impact the interest rate you can get when getting a car loan or mortgage, or when opening a new credit card. Credit scores help lenders determine how creditworthy you are, or how much risk they are taking on by lending you money.

Which States and Age Groups Have the Highest and Lowest Scores?

According to Experian’s data, the averages are the lowest across the South in states like Mississippi at 680, along with Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas ranging from 690 to 695.

The highest credit scores are spread across the country with Minnesota and Wisconsin at 742 and 738, respectively, while Washington, Vermont, and New Hampshire all boast average scores above 735.

After rising at a relatively steady pace since 2011, when the national average credit score was around 689, Experian’s national average has plateaued at 714 or 715 since 2021. As a result, the map of best and worst credit scores by state looks similar to a map created with data from 2021. In more recent data, FICO found that the average U.S. credit score had actually declined since mid-2023, which it credited to a rise in student loan delinquencies as pandemic pauses on payments have expired.

Scores could also be impacted in the future by whether medical debt is included in credit scores, which some states had passed laws preventing, along with the potential inclusion of buy now pay later programs.

A 2020 report from Experian found that women had less total debt on average than men, while their credit scores were also one point lower on average, at 704 compared to 705 for men. There are also differences in average credit health along generational lines, with average credit scores higher for older Americans who have had more time to build a credit profile and manage their debt.

Here’s Why Credit Scores Matter More Than You Think (and How to Raise Yours)

Along with determining how much money and on what terms a financial institution may be willing to lend you, credit scores can also have an impact on your social life. A Credit One Bank survey earlier this year found that about 1 in 5 younger Americans said they would prefer that dating app profiles include an option to display your credit score, with higher-income young people more concerned about a potential partner’s finances.

Whether you are looking to improve your credit scores to reach or surpass the national average or maintain an already elevated score, or hit the perfect 850, there are a range of factors within your control. Make payments on time consistently, keep your credit utilization low, and stay aware of what’s on your credit report, reporting and removing anything that is incorrect.