How Much Money People 35–44 Really Have—and Where You Stand

The Average Net Worth for Ages 35–44

The median net worth of American ages 35–44 is $135,300, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances. In simple terms, that means half of households in this age group have less than $135,300 in assets after subtracting debts—and half have more.

The Fed also provides the median values of the various components that contribute to net worth. Homeownership is by far the biggest driver of wealth for this group, followed by investments, especially in mutual funds and ETFs. The biggest drags, on the other hand, were mortgages, student loans, and car payments.

You might notice that the Fed’s reported median net worth doesn’t line up neatly with its median assets and debts. Normally, you subtract liabilities from assets to calculate net worth. However, if you do that with the Fed’s figures, you get $170,020 ($310,400 – $140,380).

The reason for this discrepancy is that not every household has both assets and debts. The Fed calculates each median separately: net worth includes all households, while median asset and debt figures reflect only those with holdings in each category.

Why Some 35- to 44-Year-Olds Pull Ahead—and Others Fall Behind

Net worth can vary widely from person to person. At the top are those who’ve inherited property, businesses, or other assets. Then come homeowners with enough income to save and invest. Finally, there are renters juggling bills and debt while trying to stay afloat.

Some differences stem from factors beyond our control—like family wealth, education, or inherited opportunities. But others depend on the choices we make and how we manage money day to day.

Key factors that boost net worth include earning more, spending thoughtfully, and using debt strategically. On the other hand, renting instead of owning, low or stagnant income, overspending, and neglecting long-term investing can all hold you back.

How to Strengthen Your Net Worth Before 45

Net worth can grow in two ways:

1. Increasing income and investing it wisely
2. Reducing debt and using it to your advantage.

The first step is maximizing earnings and reining in spending so you have the funds to pay down high-interest debt and make monthly payments more manageable. With any extra cash, experts recommend building an emergency fund covering three to six months of expenses, obtaining any necessary insurance, and then automatically investing leftover money in low-cost, stock market–tracking ETFs through tax-advantaged accounts.

“The simplest way to grow your net worth is contributing to your employer-sponsored retirement account, whether that’s a 401(k) or Simple IRA or 403(b) or whatever,” said Peter Lazaroff, a financial advisor and chief investment officer at Plancorp. “Saving at least enough to earn your employer’s match will mean you instantly double your money.”

If you’re renting, it may also make sense to save for a home down payment. In theory, building equity in an asset that can grow in value is smarter than paying someone else’s mortgage. But not everyone agrees. Critics argue that you can secure better returns and grow your net worth more by investing the extra money you’d spend on homeownership in the stock market instead.