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FICO scores stay near 714 as affordability pressure shifts to lower borrowers
The average monthly payment for first-time home buyers rose 57% since 2019, while mortgage balances for borrowers below 620 grew 43% since April 2019, according to a new FICO Score Credit Insights report.
Americans average FICO credit score is holding steady at 714, according to a new FICO Score Credit Insights report, even as experts warn that rising household costs are squeezing affordability for many borrowers.
The report said the average score is down one point from a year ago but unchanged from October 2025, and it noted that costs tied to auto loans, housing, and credit cards are reshaping how consumers manage their finances.
FICO highlighted that affordability has worsened for first-time home buyers, with the average monthly payment increasing 57% since 2019. It also pointed to rising mortgage balances among lower-score borrowers, with balances for those below 620 up 43% since April 2019, and auto loan balances for the lowest-scoring borrowers up 36% over a comparable period.
Although FICO found early-stage delinquency improved or remained stable across major loan types, it said the share of mortgage borrowers in early-stage delinquency eased from 1.42% to 1.35% year over year, while 30-day auto delinquency fell by 5 basis points to 2.6%. Tommy Lee, senior director at FICO, said the national average score stability does not necessarily mean conditions have improved, attributing it instead to delinquency holding steady or improving amid higher costs.