These reference tables compare all U.S. households around age 35 in 1989, 2007, and 2022. Use the Explorer to change age, household type, or tenure. SCF uses reference-person ages 33–37; pooled CEX interviews follow the matching birth cohorts, approximately ages 32–38 across each three-year window.
Dollar amounts are in 2022 dollars. Income and breathing room are monthly flows; asset and debt balances are stocks. A zero median can coexist with substantial borrowing or asset ownership among a minority of households. Adding category medians will not reproduce a median total, and some asset categories overlap.
Confidence intervals describe sampling and imputation uncertainty; they do not establish that a difference between years is statistically significant. Breathing Room also has separate model-sensitivity ranges in the Explorer. Check those ranges and the methodology before interpreting differences or drawing a generational ranking.
Cash-flow and debt comparisons add household-level income percentages, zero/negative breathing-room shares, broader debt payments, and a separate consumption-basis remainder. Homebuying scenarios compare entry costs rather than incumbent-owner spending.
Breathing room
Income after all personal taxes and paycheck-like deductions, minus ordinary household costs and each year's own childcare, vehicle-payment, and student-payment burdens. These reference figures use Historical Norms, not a reader-selected scenario. Mortgage, vehicle, and student-loan payments are represented; the separate cash-flow data page adds other consumer-debt payments and reports shortfall rates, income shares and consumption accounting. The “Recorded flexible spending and transfers” subtotal appears in a second cash-flow layer.
CEX income includes food-stamp benefits as resources, not unrestricted cash. The modeled remainder is not measured saving.
Breathing room · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | −$480 | −$300 | −$460 |
|---|
| Household median | $1,020 | $1,440 | $1,520 |
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| 75th percentile | $2,740 | $3,890 | $4,290 |
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| Median 95% interval | $880 to $1,170 | $1,300 to $1,570 | $1,320 to $1,720 |
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| Independent survey units | 2,621 | 3,316 | 2,421 |
|---|
2022 dollars per month. Metric v6.11.0 · Release bri-2026-10-03-r31.
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Sources: Consumer Expenditure Survey; TAXSIM 35; Survey of Consumer Finances; AHS and ACS housing microdata; Retroactive CPI-U-RS; Consumer Expenditure Survey LABSTAT age tables.
Modeled estimateIncome after all personal taxes
Annual consumer-unit before-tax income less net federal and state personal income taxes after refundable credits, modeled with the same NBER TAXSIM 35 input specification in every period, and less CEX household Social Security payroll taxes, divided by 12 and expressed in 2022 dollars.
CEX income includes food-stamp benefits as resources, not unrestricted cash. The modeled remainder is not measured saving.
Income after all personal taxes · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | $2,780 | $3,540 | $3,820 |
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| Household median | $4,680 | $5,560 | $6,210 |
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| 75th percentile | $6,810 | $8,660 | $9,490 |
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| Median 95% interval | $4,480 to $4,880 | $5,380 to $5,740 | $5,920 to $6,490 |
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| Independent survey units | 2,621 | 3,316 | 2,421 |
|---|
2022 dollars per month. Metric v2.5.0 · Release cex-2026-10-03-r21.
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Sources: Consumer Expenditure Survey; TAXSIM 35; Retroactive CPI-U-RS.
Validated survey estimateReal net worth
Total assets minus total liabilities.
Real net worth · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | $10,610 | $11,410 | $12,750 |
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| Household median | $65,870 | $71,380 | $109,930 |
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| 75th percentile | $234,710 | $334,140 | $306,300 |
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| Median 95% interval | $47,020 to $84,720 | $34,070 to $108,690 | $79,410 to $140,450 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a negative balance | 11.8% | 11.2% | 11.5% |
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| Median among negative-balance families | −$8,280 | −$9,160 | −$24,500 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | −$13,610 to −$2,950 | −$13,630 to −$4,690 | −$53,710 to $4,710 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v3.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-r13.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
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Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateLiquid accounts
Checking, savings, money market, call, and prepaid account balances in the SCF summary extract.
Liquid accounts · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | $710 | $600 | $1,600 |
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| Household median | $3,460 | $3,150 | $6,000 |
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| 75th percentile | $11,530 | $11,450 | $27,400 |
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| Median 95% interval | $2,170 to $4,750 | $2,270 to $4,030 | $4,710 to $7,290 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a positive balance | 87.4% | 90.5% | 98.2% |
|---|
| Median among positive-balance families | $4,610 | $4,150 | $6,000 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | $3,860 to $5,360 | $3,030 to $5,270 | $4,670 to $7,330 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v3.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-r13.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
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Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateHousing spending share
Total observed CEX housing spending as a share of before-tax household income.
Housing spending share · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | 19% | 19% | 17% |
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| Household median | 27% | 28% | 26% |
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| 75th percentile | 40% | 42% | 42% |
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| Median 95% interval | 26% to 28% | 28% to 29% | 25% to 26% |
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| Independent survey units | 2,621 | 3,316 | 2,421 |
|---|
Percent, using the denominator in the definition above. Metric v2.1.0 · Release cex-2026-10-03-r21.
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Sources: Consumer Expenditure Survey; Retroactive CPI-U-RS.
Validated survey estimateDebt payment burden
SCF PIRTOTAL: reported and source-imputed monthly debt payments divided by one-twelfth of prior-calendar-year before-tax family income, using the Federal Reserve's positive income-denominator floor for very low or nonpositive income. Includes zero-payment families; it is not a literal total of every legally required bill or a share of after-tax income.
Debt payment burden · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | 3% | 4% | 3% |
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| Household median | 14% | 18% | 13% |
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| 75th percentile | 24% | 32% | 22% |
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| Median 95% interval | 12% to 16% | 16% to 20% | 11% to 15% |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families owing any debt | 87.8% | 88.2% | 88.5% |
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| Median among families owing debt | 17.1% | 20.9% | 14.7% |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | 14.9% to 19.3% | 19% to 22.8% | 12.4% to 17% |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
Percent, using the denominator in the definition above. Metric v3.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-r13.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
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Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateLiquid net worth (selected assets)
Transaction accounts, CDs, savings bonds, directly held bonds, stocks, and non-money-market mutual funds, minus debt not secured by residential property. This is a defined liquidity proxy, not immediately spendable cash: sale taxes, early-withdrawal penalties, and redemption restrictions are not deducted. Retirement, home and business equity, insurance cash values, trusts, annuities, and miscellaneous financial assets are excluded.
Liquid net worth (selected assets) · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | −$13,830 | −$24,830 | −$25,990 |
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| Household median | −$460 | −$2,150 | −$1,800 |
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| 75th percentile | $13,140 | $5,010 | $24,750 |
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| Median 95% interval | −$1,300 to $380 | −$4,160 to −$140 | −$5,670 to $2,070 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a negative balance | 51.6% | 56.2% | 53% |
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| Median among negative-balance families | −$13,140 | −$18,600 | −$21,500 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | −$17,230 to −$9,050 | −$25,380 to −$11,820 | −$30,240 to −$12,760 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateHome equity
Primary-residence value minus all debt secured by that residence. Includes nonowners at zero and owners with negative equity; not a home-entry affordability measure.
Home equity · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
|---|
| 25th percentile | $0 | $0 | $0 |
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| Household median | $23,060 | $18,600 | $27,000 |
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| 75th percentile | $85,310 | $100,170 | $145,000 |
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| Median 95% interval | $8,380 to $37,740 | $6,320 to $30,880 | $6,650 to $47,350 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families owning their primary home | 60.9% | 63.4% | 57.5% |
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| Median among primary-home owners | $69,170 | $64,400 | $112,000 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | $55,960 to $82,380 | $50,880 to $77,920 | $82,180 to $141,820 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateRetirement accounts
SCF quasi-liquid retirement accounts (RETQLIQ), including IRAs and account-type pensions. Excludes the actuarial value of defined-benefit pensions and Social Security. Before 2001 the source assumes account-type pensions already paying benefits are negligible; later waves capture these accounts explicitly.
Retirement accounts · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
|---|
| 25th percentile | $0 | $0 | $0 |
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| Household median | $0 | $2,150 | $9,100 |
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| 75th percentile | $12,450 | $38,350 | $52,000 |
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| Median 95% interval | −$120 to $120 | −$130 to $4,430 | $3,180 to $15,020 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a positive balance | 45% | 54.1% | 62.7% |
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| Median among positive-balance families | $16,140 | $28,620 | $39,000 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | $9,960 to $22,320 | $15,720 to $41,520 | $31,100 to $46,900 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateFinancial assets
The SCF total of transaction accounts, CDs, securities, retirement accounts, life-insurance cash values, managed assets, and other financial assets. This includes retirement assets and overlaps the liquid-asset measures; these medians must not be added together.
Financial assets · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | $1,610 | $2,360 | $4,300 |
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| Household median | $15,450 | $16,170 | $32,300 |
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| 75th percentile | $54,410 | $81,780 | $107,000 |
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| Median 95% interval | $9,980 to $20,920 | $11,910 to $20,430 | $21,600 to $43,000 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a positive balance | 90.1% | 92.7% | 99.4% |
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| Median among positive-balance families | $20,750 | $20,750 | $32,900 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | $14,370 to $27,130 | $13,320 to $28,180 | $22,070 to $43,730 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateTotal debt
All SCF household debt, including residential mortgages and home-equity borrowing, credit cards, installment loans, other credit lines, and other debt. Business and nonresidential property debt already netted against those assets is not counted again. Includes debt-free households at zero.
Total debt · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | $5,370 | $7,710 | $10,000 |
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| Household median | $54,640 | $97,740 | $110,100 |
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| 75th percentile | $129,110 | $242,840 | $233,300 |
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| Median 95% interval | $35,740 to $73,540 | $69,700 to $125,780 | $73,700 to $146,500 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a positive balance | 87.8% | 88.2% | 88.5% |
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| Median among positive-balance families | $71,700 | $144,530 | $145,000 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | $58,110 to $85,290 | $114,550 to $174,510 | $130,610 to $159,390 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateEducation debt
SCF education-purpose installment-loan balances owed by the household. Includes households without education debt at zero; a zero median does not mean nobody borrowed. This is a debt stock, not the monthly payment.
Education debt · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
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| 25th percentile | $0 | $0 | $0 |
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| Household median | $0 | $0 | $0 |
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| 75th percentile | $0 | $0 | $13,000 |
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| Median 95% interval | $0 to $0 | $0 to $0 | $0 to $0 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
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| Families with a positive balance | 14.1% | 23.4% | 35.6% |
|---|
| Median among positive-balance families | $6,920 | $24,330 | $31,000 |
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| Conditional median 95% interval | $3,900 to $9,940 | $18,340 to $30,320 | $20,630 to $41,370 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateVehicle debt
SCF vehicle installment-loan balances, including households without a vehicle loan at zero. This is the outstanding balance, not the vehicle price or monthly payment.
Vehicle debt · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
|---|
| 25th percentile | $0 | $0 | $0 |
|---|
| Household median | $0 | $0 | $0 |
|---|
| 75th percentile | $13,830 | $14,310 | $12,000 |
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| Median 95% interval | −$410 to $410 | −$40 to $40 | −$310 to $310 |
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| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
|---|
| Families with a positive balance | 45.5% | 43.2% | 45.1% |
|---|
| Median among positive-balance families | $13,830 | $17,170 | $13,000 |
|---|
| Conditional median 95% interval | $11,530 to $16,130 | $14,670 to $19,670 | $10,540 to $15,460 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateCredit-card debt
SCF credit-card balances remaining after the last payment, including zero-balance households. Store revolving accounts are asked separately from 1992 onward, a comparability limitation for 1989. This is not the full amount of monthly card purchases.
Credit-card debt · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
|---|
| 25th percentile | $0 | $0 | $0 |
|---|
| Household median | $0 | $360 | $100 |
|---|
| 75th percentile | $2,310 | $4,880 | $2,700 |
|---|
| Median 95% interval | −$200 to $200 | −$20 to $740 | −$90 to $290 |
|---|
| Independent survey units | 313 | 331 | 305 |
|---|
| Families with a positive balance | 49.4% | 53.5% | 51.9% |
|---|
| Median among positive-balance families | $2,310 | $4,290 | $2,600 |
|---|
| Conditional median 95% interval | $2,000 to $2,620 | $3,600 to $4,980 | $1,800 to $3,400 |
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| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.6% / 5.9% |
|---|
2022 dollars. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
Validated survey estimateDebt to annual income
Total debt divided by annual before-tax SCF family income, among households with positive income. Zero or negative income is excluded rather than assigned an arbitrary ratio. This is a balance-to-annual-income ratio, not a monthly debt-payment share or a ratio to after-tax income.
Debt to annual income · Age 35 reference comparison| Statistic | 1989 | 2007 | 2022 |
|---|
| 25th percentile | 11.6% | 18.6% | 16.8% |
|---|
| Household median | 58% | 125% | 104.1% |
|---|
| 75th percentile | 147% | 240.2% | 233.9% |
|---|
| Median 95% interval | 46.2% to 69.8% | 103.2% to 146.8% | 85.6% to 122.6% |
|---|
| Independent survey units | 313 | 330 | 304 |
|---|
| Families owing any debt | 87.8% | 88.2% | 88.4% |
|---|
| Median among families owing debt | 70.4% | 156% | 129.4% |
|---|
| Conditional median 95% interval | 53.1% to 87.7% | 129.8% to 182.2% | 109.1% to 149.7% |
|---|
| Selected population: owners with / without a mortgage | 53.9% / 7% | 56.3% / 7.1% | 51.9% / 5.2% |
|---|
Percent, using the denominator in the definition above. Metric v2.0.3 · Release scf-2026-10-03-supplement-r7.
SCF normal-approximation intervals can extend below zero even for nonnegative asset or debt balances. Such an endpoint reflects the approximation, not a possible negative balance. Negative net worth and home equity, by contrast, are possible.
Explore this measure
Sources: Survey of Consumer Finances.
