What is a realistic credit score?
Generally speaking, a good credit score is between 690 and 719 in the commonly used 300-850 credit score range. Scores 720 and above are considered excellent, while scores 630 to 689 are considered fair. Scores below 630 fall into the bad credit range.
Although a lot of people might like the idea of a perfect credit score, they'd likely have a hard time actually achieving it. In the U.S., only about 1.7 percent of the scorable population had a perfect 850 FICO credit score in April 2023, according to FICO data.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
A perfect credit score of 850 is hard to get, but an excellent credit score is more achievable. If you want to get the best credit cards, mortgages and competitive loan rates — which can save you money over time — excellent credit can help you qualify. “Excellent” is the highest tier of credit scores you can have.
The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
It's exceedingly rare for anyone to have a credit score over 900, as most credit scoring models have a maximum limit of 850, and even achieving that score is uncommon.
How rare is an 800 credit score? An 800 credit score is not as rare as most people think, considering that roughly 23% of adults have a credit score in the 800-850 range, according to data from FICO. A score in this range allows consumers to access the best credit card offers and loans with the most favorable terms.
In the U.S., the average credit score is 716, per Experian's latest data from the second quarter of 2023. And when you break down the average credit score by age, the typical American is hovering near or above that score.
| Average FICO 8 Score by Generation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Generation | 2022 | 2023 |
| Generation Z (ages 18-26) | 679 - Good | 680 - Good |
| Millennials (27-42) | 687 - Good | 690 - Good |
| Generation X (43-58) | 707 - Good | 709 - Good |
A target credit score of 661 or above should get you a new-car loan with an annual percentage rate of around 7.01% or better, or a used-car loan around 9.73% or lower. Superprime: 781-850.
Who has the best credit score ever?
For most credit-scoring models, including VantageScore 3.0 and FICO, the highest credit score possible is 850. We were able to speak to two Americans who belong to the exclusive FICO 850 Club: Brad Stevens of Austin, Texas, and John Ulzheimer of Atlanta.
Generally speaking, borrowers with credit scores of 760 or higher get charged the lowest interest rates. On conventional conforming loans, which must adhere to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, a 780 may qualify you for a slightly lower rate—though it depends on your down payment amount.
Most older Americans have been building credit for much of their lives, and this population tends to have higher FICO scores than average. But being older doesn't mean you no longer have to worry about your credit score.
According to a report by FICO, only 23% of the scorable population has a credit score of 800 or above.
Mississippi has the lowest average FICO credit score, with an average FICO score of 673.
FICO & Vantage both set the lowest possible credit score at 300. However, almost nobody has this low of a score. In fact, according to FICO, the average credit score in America is 704. A bad FICO credit score ranges from 300-579, while a bad Vantage score ranges 300-499.
A credit score of 999 from Experian is the highest you can get. It usually means you don't have many marks on your credit file and are very likely to be accepted for a loan or credit card.
Buying a car with an 800 credit score
But just like with mortgages, having an excellent credit score like 800 should qualify you for the best rates a lender can offer, assuming your income and debt situation is acceptable.
Consider yourself in “good” shape if your credit score is above the average for people in your age group. Given that the average credit score for people aged 18 to 25 is 679, a score between 679 and 687 (the average for people aged 26 to 41) could be considered “good”.
Is there a difference between a 750 and 800 credit score?
This is because only 1% of these individuals will become delinquent on their loans in the future. While credit scores of 800 or above are labeled “exceptional,” a score of 750 will likely get you some of the best rates available for auto loans and mortgages.
FICO scores are generally known to be the most widely used by lenders. But the credit-scoring model used may vary by lender. While FICO Score 8 is the most common, mortgage lenders might use FICO Score 2, 4 or 5. Auto lenders often use one of the FICO Auto Scores.
While there's no such thing as the perfect “age of credit,” a FICO study reveals that for people with 800+ FICO Scores, their average age of credit accounts was 128 months (a little over 10.5 years). Yet that doesn't mean that it will take you ten and a half years to earn good credit.
| Q3 2023 | Q3 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z18–26 | $3,262 $3,262 | $2,854 $2,854 |
| Millennials27–42 | $6,521 $6,521 | $5,649 $5,649 |
| Gen X43–58 | $9,123 $9,123 | $8,134 $8,134 |
| Baby boomers59–77 | $6,642 $6,642 | $6,245 $6,245 |
Average Credit Score by Age Bracket
Different age groups have varying averages, with consumers aged 18–25 having the lowest average 679 FICO score and 661 VantageScore. Those aged 77 and older have a significantly higher average score as they've built it over many years, with their average FICO score standing at 760.
