If by “common net worth” you mean what a typical U.S. family has, the clearest benchmark is the median: $192,900 in the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), reported in 2022 dollars. The mean was much higher, at $1,063,700, because very high-wealth families pull the arithmetic average upward. These are 2022 survey figures, not a live 2026 estimate.
What does net worth mean?
The Federal Reserve defines net worth as “the difference between families’ assets and liabilities.” In practical terms, add the value of what you own and subtract what you owe. Net worth is a balance-sheet snapshot, not your annual income or the cash you can spend today.
Assets can include bank and retirement accounts, a home, vehicles, and business interests. Liabilities can include a mortgage, student loans, auto loans, and credit-card balances. The precise items and classifications depend on the dataset, so comparisons are most useful when they use the same source and definitions.
What is a typical or average net worth?
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System reported the following for U.S. families in its 2022 SCF, published in October 2023. Both amounts are in 2022 dollars.
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| Measure | 2022 net worth | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Median | $192,900 | The midpoint: half of families had more and half had less. |
| Mean | $1,063,700 | The arithmetic average, which is strongly affected by families with very high wealth. |
For “What is a typical net worth?” the median is usually the more useful answer. The mean answers a different question: total measured wealth divided across families. Because wealth is unevenly distributed, that average can be far above what most families have. The Federal Reserve’s figures and definitions are in its 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances report.
Why can’t I compare this figure with every other net-worth statistic?
Statistics may cover different populations or define them differently. The SCF uses “family”; the Federal Reserve says this measure is more comparable to the Census Bureau’s household concept than to the Census Bureau’s narrower use of “families.” A figure drawn from another survey or from a summary combining Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data may therefore have a different denominator or method. For example, SmartAsset’s 2023 article reports a $166,900 median based on Census and BLS sources; it should not be merged with the SCF result as though both measured the same population in the same way.
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Always check the survey year, population definition, and dollar-year basis before comparing numbers. The SCF is fielded every three years and gathers information on income, net worth, balance-sheet components, credit use, and other outcomes. Wealth is measured at the interview date; income refers to a prior period, so the two figures are not measurements of the same time span.
How does net worth differ by age or homeownership?
Homeownership
In the 2022 SCF, median net worth was $396,200 for homeowners and $10,400 for renters or other non-homeowners. These are descriptive group comparisons, not proof that owning a home by itself caused the difference. Home equity is one part of a balance sheet, and the groups can differ in other ways as well.
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Age
Net worth can vary by the age of the reference person because people accumulate and spend wealth at different points in life. An age comparison is meaningful only when it names the age group and uses the same survey and definition throughout. The overall median is not a substitute for an age-specific benchmark.
The SCF also found that median family net worth rose 37% and mean family net worth rose 23% between the 2019 and 2022 surveys, after adjustment for inflation. Those growth rates describe that survey interval in inflation-adjusted terms; they are not annual growth rates or a forecast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you use a national benchmark?
- Use the median rather than the mean when you want a rough comparison with the midpoint family.
- Match the benchmark to your situation where possible, especially by age and housing status, and keep the source and year consistent.
- Treat the result as context, not a target or a verdict on your finances. A useful personal measure is whether your own assets, debts, and plans are moving in the direction you intend.
The Federal Reserve’s SCF benchmark is a dated survey estimate, not a current account balance for every household. It is useful for orientation, but it cannot tell you whether your own finances are on track without considering your income, obligations, time horizon, and goals.
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