The Survey of Consumer Finances age split reveals significant differences in the wealth of American families, with the latest 2025 findings showing that families ages 75 and older recorded the highest median net worth while those younger than 35 experienced a decline. Released on October 9, 2026, the Federal Reserve’s newest survey provides an updated picture of household wealth, income, assets, debt, and retirement finances across six age groups.
The findings offer an important look at how financial circumstances differ throughout life. Younger families generally have had less time to accumulate assets, while older families may have built wealth through homeownership, retirement savings, investments, and other financial resources.
However, age alone does not determine financial security. Income, debt, housing costs, investment ownership, and family circumstances also influence a household’s financial position.
The latest results show that overall median family net worth increased between 2022 and 2025. Yet families younger than 35 experienced a substantial decline in median wealth, while families ages 75 and older recorded a significant increase.
Understanding these differences helps readers interpret the latest U.S. household wealth statistics and distinguish the financial experiences of younger workers, middle-aged families, and retirees.
What Is the Survey of Consumer Finances Age Split?
The Survey of Consumer Finances, commonly called the SCF, is a Federal Reserve study that examines the financial conditions of American families. It collects detailed information about household assets, income, liabilities, savings, investments, and borrowing.
The Federal Reserve conducts the survey every three years. Its 2025 edition is the latest available survey as of October 17, 2026.
Researchers use the results to examine how financial conditions change over time and how wealth differs among households with different characteristics.
For age comparisons, the survey groups families according to the age of a designated reference person. The six categories are:
- Younger than 35.
- Ages 35–44.
- Ages 45–54.
- Ages 55–64.
- Ages 65–74.
- Ages 75 and older.
These categories cover different stages of working life, asset accumulation, and retirement.
The youngest group includes families whose reference person has not reached age 35. The oldest category includes families whose reference person is at least 75.
The age split does not measure the finances of every individual within each category. Instead, it provides estimates for families represented by the survey.
That distinction matters because a family’s wealth may include jointly owned property, retirement accounts, investments, business interests, and outstanding debts.
Latest Median Net Worth by Age in 2025
Median net worth is one of the most useful measures for comparing household wealth across age groups.
Net worth represents the difference between the value of everything a family owns and the amount it owes. Assets may include homes, savings, stocks, retirement accounts, vehicles, and business holdings. Liabilities include mortgages, student loans, credit card balances, and other outstanding debt.
The latest survey reports the following median net worth estimates.
| Age group | Median net worth in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Younger than 35 | $32,800 |
| Ages 35–44 | $156,000 |
| Ages 45–54 | $254,700 |
| Ages 55–64 | $411,300 |
| Ages 65–74 | $431,900 |
| Ages 75 and older | $504,600 |
These amounts are expressed in inflation-adjusted 2025 dollars and rounded to the nearest $100.
The figures show a broad increase in median wealth across the age categories. Families younger than 35 recorded the lowest median net worth, while families ages 75 and older recorded the highest.
The difference between these groups is substantial. The oldest category’s median net worth was more than 15 times the youngest category’s figure.
However, this comparison does not mean that older families necessarily have higher incomes or greater financial flexibility in every situation. Net worth includes assets that may not be readily available to pay everyday expenses.
A homeowner, for example, may have considerable equity but limited cash savings. Similarly, a retiree may own valuable investments while facing significant healthcare or housing expenses.
The figures provide a benchmark for understanding household wealth rather than a universal measure of financial well-being.
How Household Wealth Changed Between 2022 and 2025
The latest SCF results show that median net worth did not move in the same direction for every age group.
Families younger than 35 experienced a 23% decline in median net worth between 2022 and 2025. Their median wealth reached approximately $33,000 in 2025 dollars.
At the other end of the age distribution, families ages 75 and older recorded a 37% increase in median net worth. Their median wealth rose from approximately $367,000 in 2022 to about $505,000 in 2025.
The middle-age categories experienced more varied results. Families ages 35–44 recorded a modest increase in median wealth, while families ages 45–54 experienced a decline.
Median wealth increased slightly among families ages 55–64 but declined among those ages 65–74.
These differences are important because the overall national figures do not tell the entire story.
Across all families, real median net worth increased 2% between the 2022 and 2025 surveys, reaching $215,900. Real mean net worth rose 7%, reaching approximately $1.24 million.
The national increase occurred alongside a decline in median wealth among the youngest families.
This contrast demonstrates why age-based data can provide information that broader economic averages may overlook.
Why Families Younger Than 35 Recorded Lower Median Wealth
The decline in median wealth among families younger than 35 is one of the most notable findings in the 2025 survey.
Their median net worth fell 23% between 2022 and 2025. Mean net worth also declined, falling 33% to approximately $135,400.
These results show that the financial position of younger families weakened on the survey’s wealth measures during the period.
At the same time, median income among families younger than 35 increased 2%, reaching $67,800 in inflation-adjusted 2025 dollars.
The different movements illustrate why income and net worth should not be treated as interchangeable measures.
Income represents money received over a period. Net worth reflects accumulated assets minus outstanding liabilities at a particular point.
A family can earn more money without building additional wealth if its expenses, debt payments, or other financial obligations absorb the increase.
Younger families may also have had fewer years to accumulate home equity, retirement savings, and investment assets than older households.
These differences provide context for interpreting the results, although the age comparison alone does not establish a single cause for the decline.
The survey does not suggest that every family younger than 35 lost wealth. Some households may have increased their assets, reduced their debt, or improved their financial position during the period.
The reported median describes the midpoint of the group rather than the experience of every family within it.
Wealth Trends Among Families Ages 35–44
Families ages 35–44 recorded a modest increase in median net worth between the 2022 and 2025 surveys.
Their median wealth reached approximately $156,000 in 2025, representing an increase of about 5% after adjusting for inflation.
Median income also increased, reaching approximately $97,600 in 2025 dollars.
These figures suggest that the typical family in this age category experienced a different combination of income and wealth changes from families younger than 35.
However, the group contains households with very different financial circumstances. Some may have substantial home equity and retirement investments, while others may still be managing student loans, mortgages, childcare expenses, or other obligations.
The survey does not assume that every family follows the same financial path.
Its results instead provide a statistical comparison that helps researchers understand how household wealth differs across stages of life.
What the Survey Shows About Families Ages 45–64
Families in the 45–54 and 55–64 categories show why wealth comparisons become more complicated as households move through their working years.
For families ages 45–54, median net worth declined approximately 6% between 2022 and 2025, reaching about $254,700.
Meanwhile, median net worth among families ages 55–64 increased approximately 3%, reaching $411,300.
The contrast shows that two neighboring age groups can experience different financial outcomes over the same period.
These categories may include families with established careers, long-term investments, home equity, business ownership, or retirement accounts. They also include households carrying significant debt or facing substantial ongoing expenses.
The SCF does not assume that age alone explains these differences.
Instead, its findings help distinguish the financial position of families in their late working years from that of younger households still building assets.
For families approaching retirement, net worth provides useful context, but it does not establish whether their savings will cover future expenses.
That assessment also depends on retirement income, spending needs, debt payments, healthcare costs, and the accessibility of their assets.
How Wealth Changed Among Families Ages 65–74
Families ages 65–74 recorded median net worth of approximately $431,900 in 2025.
This represented a decline of about 4% from the 2022 survey after adjusting for inflation.
The result is notable because the group still reported substantially higher median wealth than younger families.
A household’s financial position after age 65 can reflect decades of saving, property ownership, investment returns, and retirement planning.
However, retirement also changes how families receive income and use accumulated assets.
Some households continue to earn wages or receive pension payments. Others depend more heavily on Social Security, investment income, and withdrawals from retirement accounts.
The SCF measures these circumstances across the population rather than predicting the financial future of individual retirees.
Its findings therefore provide context for understanding retirement-age wealth without suggesting that every household in this category has sufficient resources for the remainder of its life.
Why Families Ages 75 and Older Have the Highest Median Wealth
Families ages 75 and older recorded the highest median net worth in the latest survey.
Their median wealth increased approximately 37% between 2022 and 2025, reaching about $504,600 in 2025 dollars.
Mean net worth for this group reached approximately $1.96 million.
The increase stands out because the oldest age category recorded a much larger gain in median wealth than the other groups.
The Federal Reserve’s findings also show that older families experienced income changes during the period. Median income among families ages 75 and older increased 24%, reaching $66,800 in 2025 dollars.
The results provide a detailed view of the financial position of older households, but they should not be interpreted as evidence that every senior has substantial savings.
Wealth is unevenly distributed within every age category. Some older families own valuable homes and investments, while others have limited assets and depend primarily on regular retirement income.
A high group median does not eliminate the financial challenges experienced by households below that midpoint.
The figures instead demonstrate that families ages 75 and older, considered as a group, recorded significant gains in measured wealth between the latest survey periods.
Median Net Worth Versus Average Net Worth
Readers comparing the SCF age categories should understand the difference between median and mean net worth.
Median net worth identifies the midpoint of the wealth distribution. Half of the families have lower net worth, while the other half have higher net worth.
Mean net worth is calculated by adding the net worth of families and dividing the total by the number of families represented.
The mean can be much higher than the median when a relatively small number of households hold substantial assets.
This difference matters particularly when examining wealthy households and retirement-age families.
For example, the median net worth of families ages 75 and older was approximately $504,600, while their mean net worth was close to $1.96 million.
The gap shows that the average does not represent the financial position of the typical family in this category.
For readers comparing their household wealth with the national age split, median net worth generally provides a more useful starting point.
Even then, the comparison remains incomplete without considering household size, debt, income, living expenses, and the types of assets owned.
What the Latest Survey Says About Overall U.S. Family Finances
The age-based results form part of a broader picture of American household finances.
Between the 2022 and 2025 surveys, real median family income increased 7%, reaching $82,200. Real mean family income declined 6%, reaching $145,200.
Overall median net worth increased 2%, while mean net worth rose 7%.
The Federal Reserve also reported that the homeownership rate stood at approximately 66% in 2025, largely unchanged from 2022.
Among families that owned homes, median net housing value increased from $218,900 in 2022 to $230,000 in 2025. This measure represents home value minus housing-related debt.
Retirement plan participation remained around 65%, while stock market participation declined slightly from 58% to 56%.
These national figures provide context for the age split. They show that household wealth, income, housing, and investment participation can change in different ways.
The overall data also demonstrate why financial security cannot be evaluated through one number alone.
How to Read the Survey of Consumer Finances Age Split
The latest age-based results become more useful when readers understand the survey’s main limitations.
First, the figures represent families rather than every individual within an age group. The reference person’s age determines the category.
Second, the Federal Reserve adjusts the principal comparisons for inflation. This allows readers to compare the purchasing power of wealth and income across survey years.
Third, median and mean figures describe different parts of the wealth distribution. They should not be treated as interchangeable statistics.
Finally, the survey provides estimates based on a representative sample. Its findings describe broad financial patterns, but they cannot determine the exact financial position of every American family.
These distinctions help readers avoid drawing conclusions that the data do not support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Survey of Consumer Finances age split?
It is the division of American families into six age categories based on the age of a designated reference person. The categories range from younger than 35 to 75 and older.
What is the latest SCF survey available?
The 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances is the latest edition available as of October 17, 2026. The Federal Reserve released its results on October 9, 2026.
Which age group has the highest median net worth?
Families ages 75 and older recorded the highest median net worth in the 2025 survey, at approximately $504,600 in inflation-adjusted 2025 dollars.
What is the median net worth of families younger than 35?
Their median net worth was approximately $32,800 in 2025. This was substantially lower than the median for every older age category.
Did median wealth increase for every age group?
No. Families younger than 35 and those ages 45–54 and 65–74 recorded declines in median net worth between 2022 and 2025. Other age groups recorded increases.
How often does the Federal Reserve conduct the SCF?
The Federal Reserve conducts the Survey of Consumer Finances every three years. The survey provides detailed information about family income, wealth, assets, and debt.
Why is median net worth different from average net worth?
Median net worth identifies the midpoint of the wealth distribution. Average net worth includes the influence of every family in the calculation, including households with exceptionally large amounts of wealth.
Does the survey measure individual retirement savings?
The SCF examines family finances, including retirement-related assets and plans. Its age-based net worth figures include a broader range of assets and liabilities rather than retirement savings alone.
Conclusion
The latest Survey of Consumer Finances age split highlights significant differences in the financial position of American families. Families younger than 35 recorded a decline in median net worth, while families ages 75 and older experienced the largest increase. Middle-aged and younger retirement-age households reported a mixture of gains and declines.
The findings also demonstrate why income, net worth, and retirement assets should be examined separately. Each measure provides a different perspective on household finances, and none alone captures every aspect of financial security.
What do these latest wealth figures reveal about the financial challenges facing different generations? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay updated as new U.S. household finance data becomes available.