The findings
Read the numbers. See the people.
A national middle value is useful. It still cannot tell every family's story. Start with the measure, the group, and the year.
Compare the survey years
Median family net worth
The middle family's assets minus debts.
+2%All SCF families
Source: Federal Reserve Board ↗Table 2, report page 12 (PDF page 18)
Keep the details in view
One table. Clear labels.
| Measure | 2022 survey | 2025 survey | Who it describes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median family net worth | $211,100 | $215,900 | All SCF families |
| Median family income | $76,900 | $82,200 | All SCF families |
| Families with high debt payments | 6.5% | 8.6% | All SCF families; payments exceed 40% of income |
| Median net housing value | $218,900 | $230,000 | Families that own a home |
| Stock market participation | 58% | 56% | All SCF families; direct and indirect stock ownership |
| Median stock holdings | $56,900 | $77,400 | Families that hold stock |
Income is for the year before each survey: 2021 and 2024. Medians for home equity and stock holdings describe asset owners. The other listed measures cover all SCF families. Published changes are rounded; the points shown here are not significance tests.
A bigger picture than income.
Income tells us what came in. Assets show what is owned. Debt shows what is owed. Reading them together helps us see both resources and pressure.
Families do not all move together.
A national change can hide very different experiences by age, race, housing status, and other groups. Use the official tables to explore those differences.