What Is the Average US Family Net Worth
The average US family net worth reached a record high before declining slightly in the most recent Federal Reserve survey, while the median family net worth remains far lower, highlighting the gap between typical and high-wealth households Forbes Advisor.
According to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances, the mean family net worth is driven up by a small number of ultra-wealthy families, while the median figure better reflects what a typical American family holds in assets minus debts Forbes Advisor.
How Net Worth Varies by Income and Age
Higher-income families hold a much larger share of total net worth, with the top 10 percent owning the majority of assets, while lower-income families often have little to no net worth or even negative balances Forbes Advisor.
Net worth rises sharply with age as families accumulate home equity, retirement accounts, and business ownership, peaking around retirement before declining as households draw down savings Forbes Advisor.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Family Net Worth
White families hold a much larger share of total net worth than Black, Hispanic, and other minority families, with the median net worth gap driven by differences in homeownership, inheritance, and access to capital Forbes Advisor.
Asian families have a higher median net worth than white families on average, while Black and Hispanic families have the lowest median net worth, reflecting persistent structural barriers in wealth building Forbes Advisor.
