Credit scores are currently the best tool used by lenders, employers, and insurance companies to predict risk in the decision making process. The 3 credit score ratings that most creditors use to evaluate consumers come from the three major credit bureaus that collect information on consumers in America, usa.gov/topics/money/credit/. With so many credit scores available to credit score agencies it is sometimes difficult to know what is considered an average credit score in the nation.
3 Credit Score Ratings: Average Credit Score
Each of the three credit score agencies that handle the vast majority of consumer credit accounts in the United States, create a credit score for every individual credit file. Many people wonder, “What is the average credit score in America?” While scores may vary between the three bureaus, depending on the type of scoring model used, it is still possible to determine an average credit score for the nation and for each of the states.
National Average Credit Score
While many people want to know how their credit scores compare to others in the nation, it is better to examine the median score in the country since some areas are disproportionately lower in scores due to regionally depressed economies.
According to the FICO credit score range that assigns scores from 300 to 850, 723 is the approximate median score for American consumers. This means that roughly 50% of the adult population maintains scores below 723, while 50% of consumers have scores above 723. The average credit score range in the nation is currently 700 to 725 for FICO credit scores, however.
Average Credit Score by State
The Experian Corporation, which is the nation’s smallest credit bureau releases credit score information annually. They report that the average Experian, Plus Score (that ranges from 330 to 830) is about 692 in the United States. Experian breaks scores down further by state, so Americans can compare credit scores across the nation. The following scores are approximate averages released by the company:
Alabama – 676
Alaska – 684
Arizona – 676
Arkansas – 677
California – 687
Colorado – 692
Connecticut – 705
Delaware – 680
Florida – 678
Georgia – 670
Missouri – 690
Montana – 709
Nebraska – 708
Nevada – 660
New Hampshire – 711
New Mexico – 676
New Jersey – 699
New York – 697
North Carolina – 679
North Dakota – 715
Ohio – 690
Oklahoma – 676
Oregon – 698
Pennsylvania – 700
Rhode Island – 700
South Carolina – 671
South Dakota – 714
Tennessee – 679
Texas – 667
Utah – 694
Vermont – 712
Virginia – 694
Washington – 700
Washington DC – 679
West Virginia – 680
Wisconsin – 707
Wyoming – 695
Users of the Experian website can compare average Plus Scores in their city with other cities in the country as well. Based on your residential zip code , you can check the company’s “National Score Index” to see how your town measures up to others.
Vantage Score Range: What is Considered an Average Credit Score?
VantageScore was created by each of the three major credit bureaus together and ranges from 501 to 990. An average VantageScore for Americans is 736. The scoring model also assigns letter grades to each of the separate scoring ranges. Below, the percentages indicate the number of Americans in each of the ratings categories.
901 – 990 = A, Super Prime, 11%
801 – 900 = B, Prime Plus, 29%
701 – 800 = C, Prime, 21%
601 – 700 = D, Non-Prime, 20%
501 – 600 = F, High Risk, 19%
Your 3 Bureau Credit Score: What is Considered an Average Credit Score?
Among the credit score ratings used by individual lenders and developed by the credit bureaus, and the Fair Isaac Corporation, credit score averages do differ significantly. It is important to remember this when making comparisons between your scores and average credit scores across the nation. By knowing where you stand in terms of credit worthiness, you can take advantage of the best credit opportunities available. Contact BestCredit.net to find out more about your 3 credit score ratings today!
