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Here's the Net Worth of Every Generation (How Do You Compare?)

Net worth rises with age, but the generational gap is nuanced.

By Adam Palasciano , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Nov. 10, 2026

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Net worth can tell you more about your financial position than income alone because it measures what you own minus what you owe. If you're trying to get ahead financially, comparing your number with people in a similar life stage can provide useful context. But averages can be misleading: In the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, mean family net worth was about $1.06 million, while the median was just $192,900. That's why the median is the better place to start.

While the Federal Reserve doesn't publish one official median for every named generation, its latest survey reports median net worth by age. The figures below use the age groups that most closely line up with each generation, and the comparison gets more interesting once you put those numbers in context.

Here's what you need to know.

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Silent Generation: roughly $335,600

For households headed by someone age 75 or older, the Federal Reserve reported a median net worth of $335,600 in 2022. That age group largely overlaps with the Silent Generation, although the oldest baby boomers were also included.

Older households have had more time to pay down mortgages, build home equity, and accumulate retirement assets, which helps explain why the figure is much higher than it is for younger adults. Still, net worth can begin declining later in retirement as households spend savings.

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Baby boomers: roughly $409,900

Households headed by someone ages 65 to 74 had the highest median net worth in the Fed's age breakdown, at $409,900. Boomers also dominate aggregate U.S. wealth: New York Fed data show they held about 51% of household net worth in the third quarter of 2025 while representing about 30% of the population.

Decades of homeownership, retirement saving, and exposure to rising stock and real estate markets helped many build substantial assets. But that wealth isn't evenly distributed, which is another reason the median matters more than a headline average.

Generation X: roughly $247,200

The closest clean Fed age bracket for Gen X is ages 45 to 54, which had a median net worth of $247,200 in 2022. Gen X is deep into its peak earning and saving years, but many households are also balancing mortgages, college costs, and retirement contributions at the same time.

St. Louis Fed research found Gen X held more mortgage debt than boomers at comparable ages. Even so, Gen X accounted for about 26% of U.S. household wealth by late 2025, according to the New York Fed.

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Millennials: roughly $135,600

Households headed by someone ages 35 to 44 had a median net worth of $135,600, making this the closest current Fed benchmark for many millennials. Housing affordability and student debt have created real obstacles, but the generational story isn't simply that millennials are falling hopelessly behind.

St. Louis Fed research found median millennial wealth at age 30 was $22,122 in inflation-adjusted 2019 dollars, slightly above the $21,481 held by boomers at the same age and below Gen X's $27,152. In other words, comparing millennials with boomers today ignores decades of extra wealth-building time.

Gen Z: the best benchmark is about $39,000

The Federal Reserve reported a median net worth of $39,000 for households headed by someone under 35 in 2022, the closest broad benchmark available for Gen Z, though the group also includes younger millennials. That may look tiny next to boomer wealth, but the comparison mostly reflects life stage.

Separately, St. Louis Fed analysis found that younger millennial and Gen Z households had more average inflation-adjusted wealth at about age 34 than either Gen X or boomers did at roughly the same age. Younger adults still face expensive housing and education debt, but they also have decades left for earnings, investing, and home equity to compound.

Bottom line

Are you building net worth at a pace that makes sense for your age, income, and retirement goals? That's more useful than comparing a 35-year-old directly with someone who has spent 40 additional years saving and investing. The data shows that wealth generally follows a life-cycle pattern, rising through much of adulthood and eventually declining as retirees spend down assets.

Your own trend matters most. Paying down high-interest debt, consistently contributing to retirement accounts, maintaining emergency savings, and investing for the long term can all move the number in the right direction. Using peer benchmarks as context instead of a scorecard can help you grow your wealth without letting someone else's life stage dictate how successful you feel.

FAQs

Which generation has the highest median net worth?

Baby boomers have the highest approximate median net worth based on the closest Federal Reserve age bracket. Households headed by someone ages 65 to 74 had a median net worth of $409,900 in 2022. Baby boomers have had decades to build retirement savings, invest, purchase homes, and pay down mortgages and other debts.

Can where I keep my emergency fund affect my net worth?

Yes. Interest adds to your savings balance, which can increase your net worth over time. For example, a $40,000 emergency fund earning $12 a month would bring in $144 over a year. At a 4.00% APY maintained for a full year, it would earn about $1,600. If your cash is earning very little, see what your $40,000 emergency fund could be missing and compare rates on accounts that keep the money accessible. Savings rates can change.

How can I increase my net worth?

You can increase your net worth by paying down debt, building emergency savings, contributing to retirement accounts, investing consistently, and avoiding taking on unnecessary high-interest debt. Tracking your net worth over time can show whether those efforts are working.

Why might my net worth be lower than average?

Your net worth may be lower because of student loans, credit card debt, high housing costs, caregiving expenses, job interruptions, or getting a later start on saving. A below-median net worth doesn't necessarily mean you're financially unsuccessful; focus on paying down high-interest debt, building emergency savings, and consistently contributing to retirement accounts.

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