The middle of the range is around 670 to 739, but what matters is your lender's threshold

There is no single "average" credit score in the U.S. because different scoring models produce different numbers, and lenders set their own cutoffs for what they will accept. The most commonly used model is FICO, which ranges from 300 to 850. According to Experian (one of the three major credit bureaus), the median FICO score in the U.S. hovers around 715, though this shifts year to year and varies significantly by age, income, and region.

What matters more than the national average is where your score sits relative to the thresholds lenders actually use. A mortgage lender might require 620 or higher, a credit card issuer might want 700 or higher, and an auto lender might work with scores as low as 550. Knowing the range your lender cares about is more useful than knowing what everyone else scored.

Key Takeaways

  • FICO scores, the most common model, range from 300 to 850, and the median U.S. score is around 715, though this varies by year and region.
  • Different lenders set different minimum scores: mortgage lenders often require 620 or higher, credit card issuers may want 700 or higher, and auto lenders sometimes work with scores below 600.
  • Your score can differ across the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) because they may have different information about you on file.
  • Scores change based on payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and recent inquiries — not on income, employment, or savings.

How FICO breaks down the score ranges

FICO divides scores into bands that lenders use as shorthand. Poor (300–669) typically means you will face higher interest rates or be denied outright. Fair (670–739) is where many people land; you can get credit but at less favorable terms. Good (740–799) opens better rates and terms. Very Good (800–850) gets you the best offers available.

These bands are not official FICO categories — lenders create their own labels — but they reflect how lenders actually behave. A score of 680 and a score of 720 might both fall in the "fair" range, but the 720 will get a lower interest rate on a mortgage or car loan. The difference compounds over the life of a loan.

Why your score differs across the three bureaus

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are separate companies that collect credit information independently. A creditor might report to all three, to only one or two, or to none at all. This means your Equifax score, Experian score, and TransUnion score can all be different — sometimes by 50 points or more.

When you check your credit for free through AnnualCreditReport.com (the federally mandated site), you get your credit report from each bureau, not your score. To see your actual FICO score, you typically have to pay, though some credit card issuers and banks now offer free FICO scores to their customers. VantageScore is another model (created by the three bureaus together) that some lenders use, and it produces yet another number.

What actually moves your score up or down

FICO weights five factors: payment history (35 percent), amounts owed relative to your limits (30 percent), length of credit history (15 percent), credit mix — having different types of credit like cards and loans (10 percent) — and recent inquiries (10 percent). Missing a payment tanks your score. Paying down a high balance on a credit card raises it. Opening a new card or loan creates a small dip that usually recovers in a few months.

Your income, employment status, savings, or assets do not factor into your FICO score at all. A wealthy person with no credit history and a poor person with perfect payment history will have very different scores. Lenders may look at income separately when deciding whether to lend, but the score itself is built only from credit behavior.

How age and region affect the numbers

Younger people tend to have lower average scores because they have less credit history. Someone in their 20s with only a few years of credit activity will typically score lower than someone in their 50s with decades of accounts, even if both pay on time. Building a long credit history takes time and cannot be rushed.

Regional variation exists but is smaller than variation by age or income. Some states have higher average scores than others, partly because of differences in income levels, housing costs, and economic conditions. But these regional differences are usually 20 to 40 points, not the 100-point swings you see between age groups.

What to do if your score is below the range you need

If you are denied credit or offered poor terms, ask the lender what score they require and what factors hurt you most. Then focus on the highest-impact changes: paying all bills on time going forward (this is the largest factor), paying down existing balances (especially on credit cards), and not opening new accounts unless necessary. These changes take months to show up in your score, not weeks.

If you have errors on your credit report — accounts you did not open, payments marked late that you made on time, or duplicate accounts — you can dispute them with the bureau for free. Errors are less common than people think, but they do happen. Start at AnnualCreditReport.com to pull your reports and look for inaccuracies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 700 a good credit score?

A 700 FICO score is in the "good" range and will get you credit at reasonable rates from most lenders. You will not get the absolute best offers available, but you will not face the high rates or denials that come with scores below 670. Whether 700 is "good enough" depends on what you are trying to borrow for.

Can I have different scores from each credit bureau?

Yes. Each bureau collects information independently, and creditors may report to one, two, or all three. Your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion scores can differ by 50 points or more. When you apply for credit, the lender usually pulls from one bureau, so knowing all three is useful.

How long does it take to raise my credit score?

Small improvements (10 to 20 points) can show up in one or two months if you pay down a large balance or catch up on late payments. Larger improvements take longer because payment history goes back seven years. Consistent on-time payments over six months to a year typically produce noticeable gains.

Does checking my own credit score hurt it?

No. Checking your own score or pulling your credit report is a "soft inquiry" and does not affect your score. Only "hard inquiries" — when a lender pulls your report because you applied for credit — cause a small, temporary dip.

What score do I need to get a mortgage?

Most conventional mortgage lenders require a minimum of 620, though 640 to 660 is more common for better rates. FHA loans (backed by the federal government) sometimes work with scores as low as 580. The higher your score, the lower your interest rate will be over the life of the loan.