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Are You Well-Paid? Compare Your Salary to the Average U.S. Income
What's the average U.S. salary by state? What's the average salary in the U.S.? What's the average salary by age? Read on to find out what the research says.
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The average credit score in America is 715. Find out how yours compares in this full report by Motley Fool Money.
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USA Today:
The road to 850: Five pathways to a perfect credit score
Just 1.5% of American consumers have perfect FICO credit scores, according to Motley Fool Money.
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Discover wasteful spending trends -- and how high-yield savings accounts and budgeting tools can help curb impulse buying and grow your cash.
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CNBC:
Americans say these are the top 5 things they waste the most money on
85% of Americans say they will at least occasionally spend money on an unnecessary expense, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans released by Motley Fool Money.
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Americans shelled out $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, a record high. But is playing the lottery a good investment?
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CBS News:
Powerball jackpot grows to $643 million after no winners in Monday drawing
The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 292 million, according to Powerball. But these chances don't stop Americans from spending roughly $103 billion on lottery tickets annually, according to data from Motley Fool Money.
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Jack Caporal
Jack Caporal is the Research Director for The Motley Fool and Motley Fool Money and has worked full-time for the company since 2021. Jack leads efforts to identify and analyze trends shaping investing and personal financial decisions across the United States. His research has appeared in thousands of media outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and has been cited in congressional testimony. He previously covered business and economic trends as a reporter and policy analyst in Washington, D.C. He serves as Chair of the Trade Policy Committee at the World Trade Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds a B.A. degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics from Michigan State University.
Joel O'Leary
Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.
Recent Research
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April 16, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
How Much Do Americans Spend on Gas Every Month?
Americans spent $201/month on gas in 2024, or 3.1% of their budget. See how spending varies by income, age, and state.
April 13, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
The Average Cost of Airfare: How Much Is a Plane Ticket?
The average cost of a domestic plane ticket is $370 as of the third quarter of 2025. Motley Fool Money has the latest airfare data by airport and route.
April 10, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
Lottery Statistics and Revenue by State
Americans shelled out $104.7 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, a record high. But is playing the lottery a good investment?
April 9, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
Is It Cheaper to Rent or Buy a Home? Comparing the Costs
Renters spent 29.8% of income on housing in 2024 vs. 17.9% for mortgaged owners. See how renting vs. owning costs compare, per BLS data.
April 7, 2026 | By
Jack Caporal
Average Tax Refund in 2026, by Income, Age, and Filing Status
The average tax refund is $3,676 as of March 2026, per IRS data -- up 10.6% year over year. See refund amounts by income, age, filing status, and state.
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Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
Alicia Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.