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Debt Percentile Calculator by Type & Age

How does your debt compare to other Americans — by debt type and age group? Among households that carry a credit card balance, the median is $2,688. The median student loan balance among borrowers is $24,300. The median auto loan is $15,240. Enter your balances below to see exactly where you rank nationally and for your age group.

Enter any debts that apply — all fields are optional.

Credit cards, store cards, and revolving credit

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Federal and private student loans

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Car, truck, or motorcycle loans

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Remaining mortgage balance — compared against other mortgage holders

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Compare to households your age

How is debt percentile calculated?

Your debt percentile tells you what share of U.S. households carry less of that debt type than you. If you're at the 70th percentile for credit card debt, 70% of all households — including those with no credit card balance — owe less than you do. Unlike net worth or income percentile where higher is better, a lower debt percentile means less debt relative to your peers. This calculator uses data from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), the most comprehensive U.S. household wealth and debt survey available, conducted every three years.

Average credit card debt by age

About 45% of U.S. households carry a credit card balance. Among those who do, balances tend to rise through middle age and decline after 65 as spending patterns shift in retirement.

Age group Median balance % with CC debt
Under 35 $1,680 49%
35-44 $2,890 53%
45-54 $3,000 57%
55-64 $3,450 44%
65-74 $3,500 34%
75+ $1,718 30%

Federal Reserve SCF, 2022–2023 · Median among holders only

Average student loan debt by age

Only 22% of U.S. households currently carry student loan debt. Balances are highest among younger households and fall steadily with age as loans are repaid — though a meaningful share of older Americans still carry balances, either from their own education or Parent PLUS loans.

Age group Median balance % with student loans
Under 35 $18,000 40%
35-44 $25,000 34%
45-54 $30,480 26%
55-64 $40,300 13%
65-74 $38,200 5%
75+ $25,600 3%

Federal Reserve SCF, 2022–2023 · Median among holders only

Average auto loan balance by age

About 35% of U.S. households carry an auto loan — making it the most common non-mortgage debt type after credit cards. Balances are relatively consistent across working-age groups and fall sharply after 65.

Age group Median balance % with auto loan
Under 35 $14,060 40%
35-44 $16,200 43%
45-54 $16,000 45%
55-64 $17,400 34%
65-74 $16,000 24%
75+ $10,680 14%

Federal Reserve SCF, 2022–2023 · Median among holders only

Why compare debt by type?

Lumping all debt together into one number misses the story. Credit card debt, student loans, and auto loans have very different interest rates, payoff timelines, and implications for financial health. A household with $30,000 in student loans and no other debt is in a very different position than one with $30,000 spread across credit cards at 24% APR.

Mortgage debt is treated separately because it's backed by an asset. Your mortgage balance is compared only against the 42% of households that carry a mortgage — comparing against renters with no mortgage would be misleading. The median mortgage balance among homeowners with a mortgage is $156,400.

Debt and your overall financial picture

Debt percentile tells you one piece of your financial story. The full picture includes your income and net worth. High debt relative to income is a warning sign regardless of your percentile rank — a debt-to-income ratio above 43% is a common threshold lenders consider high-risk. For the most complete picture, combine your debt percentile with your income percentile and net worth percentile .

Frequently asked questions

What is the average credit card debt by age?
Among households that carry a credit card balance, the national median is $2,688. Balances peak in middle age: the median among 45–54-year-old cardholders is $3,000, and among 55–64-year-olds it's $3,450. Younger households (under 35) carry a median of $1,680, while those 75 and older carry $1,718. Note that only 45% of U.S. households carry any credit card balance — these figures reflect holders only.
How much student loan debt does the average person have?
Among households with student loan debt, the national median balance is $24,300. Only 22% of U.S. households currently carry student loan debt. The burden is heaviest among younger households: the median among under-35 student loan holders is $18,000, dropping to $25,000 for ages 35–44 as loans are paid off. By 65–74, the median among those who still have student loans is $38,200.
What is the average auto loan balance?
Among households with an auto loan, the national median balance is $15,240. About 35% of U.S. households carry an auto loan. Auto loan balances are fairly consistent across age groups, peaking for households ages 35–44 at $16,200 and declining for older households as vehicles are paid off. Auto debt is one of the most common debt types — more common than student loans, though typically smaller than mortgage debt.
Is $10,000 in credit card debt a lot?
Yes, $10,000 in credit card debt is above average. The median credit card balance among U.S. households that carry any balance is $2,688, and only 45% of all households carry a credit card balance at all. A $10,000 balance puts you well above the typical cardholder. Use the calculator above to see your exact percentile for your age group.
What percentage of Americans have student loan debt?
About 22% of U.S. households currently carry student loan debt, according to the 2022 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. That means roughly 78% of households have no student loan balance — either they never borrowed, finished paying them off, or had loans discharged. The 22% figure includes households where any member has outstanding student loan debt.
How is the mortgage comparison different from other debt types?
Credit card, student loan, and auto loan percentiles are calculated against all U.S. households, including those with $0 of that debt type. Mortgage balance is compared only against the 42% of households that currently carry a mortgage — comparing your mortgage to renters with no mortgage would be meaningless. The median mortgage balance among mortgage holders is $156,400. This distinction matters: a high percentile for credit card debt means you carry more than most people; a high percentile for mortgage balance means you have a larger mortgage than most homeowners, which may simply reflect a higher-value home.
What percentage of Americans are completely debt-free?
About 23% of U.S. households carry no debt of any kind — no mortgage, no credit card balance, no student loans, and no auto loans. This figure is from the 2022 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. Debt-free households are more common among older Americans, who have had more time to pay off mortgages and other obligations.
How often is this data updated?
This calculator uses data from the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), which is conducted every three years. The most recent survey was conducted from February 2022 to April 2023, covering 4,595 families weighted to represent all U.S. households. The next survey is expected to be published around 2026.