Couples' Median Net Worth Outpaces Singles by Fourfold

The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances reveals that couples have a median net worth more than four times that of singles, with married households holding around $316,000 and single households around $74,000 in 2022.

The disparity narrows slightly when looking at averages, which are skewed by ultrawealthy outliers, but the difference remains significant: $1.5 million for married households versus $445,000 for singles.

Certified financial planner Lawrence Sprung attributes this gap to several factors, including dual incomes and shared living expenses, as well as age-related factors, noting that about four-fifths of married households are headed by someone 35 or older.