Families headed by someone 75 or older now have the highest median net worth of any age group, $504,900, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances. Families headed by someone under 35 saw their median fall 23% to $33,000. Across all families, median net worth rose 2% to $215,900.
Key Takeaways
- Median net worth for families headed by someone 75 or older rose 37% between 2022 and 2025, from $367,300 to $504,900.
- Median net worth for families headed by someone under 35 fell 23%, from $42,700 to $33,000.
- Average net worth for the under-35 group fell 33% to $135,400, while the 75-and-older average rose 10% to $1.96 million.
- In the 2022 survey, families aged 65 to 74 held the highest median net worth.
- All figures are adjusted for inflation and stated in 2025 dollars.
Net Worth Average by Age Shows a Sharp Split Since 2022
The Federal Reserve released the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances on October 9, 2026. The survey is conducted every three years and covers about 4,300 households, making it one of the most detailed public measures of what American families own and owe. Net worth is a family’s assets, such as homes, savings, retirement accounts and businesses, minus its debts.
For all families, the picture changed only modestly. Real median net worth rose 2% to $215,900, and real mean net worth rose 7% to $1.24 million. The survey groups families by the age of the head of the family, and that breakdown shows a much wider split. Median net worth by age in the 2025 survey:
| Age of Family Head | Median Net Worth, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Under 35 | $33,000 |
| 35 to 44 | $155,600 |
| 45 to 54 | $253,700 |
| 55 to 64 | $411,900 |
| 65 to 74 | $431,300 |
| 75 and older | $504,900 |
Families 75 and Older Post the Highest Median Net Worth
Families headed by someone 75 or older moved to the top of the distribution. Their median net worth rose 37% between the 2022 and 2025 surveys, from $367,300 to $504,900. Their average net worth rose 10% to $1.96 million.
The lead is narrower than the headline suggests. The 65-to-74 group, which held the highest median in 2022, saw its median slip 4% to $431,300, putting it about $74,000 below the oldest group. Both groups are near the stage of life when families typically draw down savings rather than build them, so the gap may move again by the next survey in 2029.
Under-35 Net Worth Falls 23% at the Median
The youngest families moved the other way. Median net worth for families headed by someone under 35 fell 23%, from $42,700 in 2022 to $33,000 in 2025. Their average net worth fell 33%, from $200,800 to $135,400, the steepest decline of any age group.
The drop stands out because it came during a period when overall household wealth rose. Families aged 35 to 44, the next bracket up, saw their median rise 5% to $155,600. The decline was concentrated among the youngest families.
The US Generational Wealth Gap Widens
Taken together, the changes widened the US generational wealth gap. In 2022, the median family headed by someone 75 or older held about 8.6 times as much wealth as the median family under 35. By 2025, that ratio had grown to roughly 15 times.
Part of any generational wealth gap is expected. Older families have had decades to pay down mortgages, build home equity and accumulate retirement savings. What changed between surveys is the pace. The oldest group gained while the youngest lost ground, so the distance between them grew faster than age alone would explain.
What the Shift Means for Businesses and Young Founders
For businesses, the data points to where household wealth is concentrating. Older consumers hold a growing share of net worth, which shapes demand in categories such as travel, health care, home services and financial services. The income side matters too. Many older households will see Social Security’s 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 added to the wealth they already hold.
For younger founders, lower net worth means less personal capital to start a business. Many first-time entrepreneurs fund early operations from savings, home equity or family support. A median net worth of $33,000 for families under 35 leaves little room for that, which can push young founders toward outside financing earlier.
Why the Median Is the Better Benchmark
The survey reports both medians and averages, and the difference matters. The median is the midpoint: half of families have more, and half have less. The average is pulled upward by a small number of very wealthy families. For families under 35, the average of $135,400 is about four times the median of $33,000. That is why the median gives a more realistic picture of a typical household.
FAQs
What Is the Average Net Worth by Age?
In the Federal Reserve’s 2025 survey, average net worth was $135,400 for families under 35, $681,900 for ages 35 to 44, $1,897,600 for ages 65 to 74 and $1,962,200 for families 75 and older. Averages run well above medians because the wealthiest families pull them up.
What Is the Median Net Worth by Age?
Median net worth ranges from $33,000 for families under 35 to $504,900 for families 75 and older, according to the 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances. The median for all families is $215,900.
Are You Ahead or Behind Net Worth Averages by Age?
The Federal Reserve’s medians offer the more representative comparison, since averages are skewed upward by a small number of very wealthy households. For example, the median for families under 35 is $33,000, while the average is $135,400.
