Net Worth Calculator — Methodology

How This Calculator Works

The Net Worth Calculator sums your assets (what you own) and subtracts your liabilities (what you owe) to produce your net worth. It then compares your result to age-cohort benchmarks from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF).

Inputs and Assumptions

• Assets: Checking/savings, investments, retirement accounts, home and property value, vehicles, other assets.
• Liabilities: Mortgage, car loans, credit cards, student loans, other debts.
• Age: Used to select the appropriate SCF benchmark cohort.

Enter property at its current market value, and enter the mortgage under liabilities. The calculator subtracts the mortgage itself, so do not deduct it from the property value as well, or the debt will be counted twice.

Formula

Net Worth = Total Assets - Total Liabilities

Total Assets = checkingSavings + investments + retirement
             + realEstate + vehicles + otherAssets

Total Liabilities = mortgage + carLoans + creditCards
                  + studentLoans + otherDebts

Data Sources

• Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) 2022 — Median and mean net worth by age cohort. This is the most comprehensive and authoritative source for U.S. household wealth data, conducted every 3 years.

SCF cohorts used: Under 35, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–74, 75+. Median and mean values are from the 2022 survey, Table 2 of “Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022” (published October 2023), in 2022 dollars.

Limitations

• Does not track net worth over time — this is a point-in-time snapshot.
• Asset values are self-reported estimates, not verified market values.
• Does not account for illiquid assets that may be difficult to convert to cash.
• SCF benchmarks are national averages — regional cost of living varies significantly.
• Does not project future net worth trajectory.

Last Updated

April 2026 — SCF 2022 benchmarks in use. Will update when SCF 2025 data is published.

4 October 2026 — The benchmarks were in fact the 2019 survey's figures under a 2022 label (for example $13,900 median under 35, against $39,000 in 2022). Replaced with the 2022 survey's Table 2, read from the Federal Reserve's report.