According to FICO, only 1.6% of the population has an 850 credit score. It's incredibly tough to get there, but reaching an 850 score is possible. The first step in achieving an 850 credit score is understanding how the process works.
While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.
1.31% of Americans with a FICO® Score have the coveted perfect 850 score. Baby boomers make up the majority of Americans who have a perfect 850 credit score, accounting for 59% of those whose FICO® Scores couldn't be higher.
Even better, just over 1 in 5 people (21.2%) have an exceptional FICO credit score of 800 or above, all but guaranteeing access to the best products and interest rates.
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.
South Burlington, Vt., is the city with the highest credit score, while Detroit is the city with the lowest, according to personal finance site WalletHub.
Those with exceptional credit, FICO® Scores of 800 and above, will likely receive the same terms as someone with a perfect score of 850—all else remaining equal.
There's no single, specific credit score that will automatically qualify you for a mortgage (though having the maximum score of 850 certainly never hurts). However, while lenders might not set precise qualifying numbers, they do have minimum credit score requirements.
"The 850 FICO Score." Experian. "The Elusive 850: Experian Reveals Traits of Consumers With Perfect FICO® Scores."
Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data. Since so few people have such high scores, lenders don't split the 800+ credit score crowd into smaller groups that get separate offers.
Overall, Credit Karma may produce a different result than one or more of the three major credit bureaus directly. The slight differences in calculations between FICO and VantageScore can lead to significant variances in credit scores, making Credit Karma less accurate than most may appreciate.
Your score falls in the range of scores, from 800 to 850, that is considered Exceptional. Your FICO® Score and is well above the average credit score. Consumers with scores in this range may expect easy approvals when applying for new credit. 21% of all consumers have FICO® Scores in the Exceptional range.
Your 850 FICO® Score is nearly perfect and will be seen as a sign of near-flawless credit management. Your likelihood of defaulting on your bills will be considered extremely low, and you can expect lenders to offer you their best deals, including the lowest-available interest rates.
It is possible to have a perfect 850 credit score, but it's not necessary to get the best loan terms and rates. In most cases, a 760 will get you the same benefits.
Key Takeaways. Your credit score is a major factor in whether you'll be approved for a car loan. Some lenders use specialized credit scores, such as a FICO Auto Score. In general, you'll need at least prime credit, meaning a credit score of 661 or up, to get a loan at a good interest rate.
A 700 credit score is not rare, considering that the average credit score is 714 and 67% of adults have a credit score of 670 or higher, according to data from Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. Credit scores between 700 and 750 are categorized as “good” credit.
The average score in April 2024 stood at 715 The score as displayed ranges from 300 to 850 and is based on three different consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) in the United States, namely Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.
What is considered a “normal” credit limit among most Americans? The average American had access to $29,855 in credit across all of their credit cards as of the third quarter of 2023, according to Experian. But the average credit card balance was $6,501 during the same quarter— well below the average credit limit.
While millennials and Gen X saw double digit increases in credit scores (11 and 10 points, respectively), the silent generation continued to have the highest average credit score at 758. The silent generation even outpaced the average credit score for the general population (710).
Making a late payment
Your payment history on loan and credit accounts can play a prominent role in calculating credit scores. Even one late payment on a credit card account or loan can result in a credit score decrease, depending on the scoring model used.