Who Has a 484 Credit Score?

While a 484 credit score is significantly below the average for any age demographic, it's helpful to see how scores typically break down by generation. According to 2023 Experian data, average credit scores generally increase with age:

• Generation Z (ages 18-26): 680
• Millennials (ages 27-42): 690
• Generation X (ages 43-58): 709
• Baby Boomers (ages 59-77): 745
• Silent Generation (ages 78+): 760

Credit Cards With a 484 Credit Score

A credit score of 484 falls into the "poor" credit range, which can significantly hinder your ability to get approved for most credit cards. Lenders generally view applicants with scores in this range as high-risk, often resulting in immediate denials for traditional unsecured cards. While approval is challenging, you may still qualify for specific products like secured credit cards, though they typically come with less favorable terms.

‍

Kudos offers AI-powered tools that provide personalized credit card recommendations from a comprehensive database of nearly 3,000 cards. By analyzing your preferences or spending habits, the platform helps match you with cards suited to your financial situation and provides insights on how a new card might impact your credit.

Auto Loans and a 484 Credit Score

A 484 credit score places you in the deep subprime category, which can make securing an auto loan challenging. While approval is still possible, you should anticipate facing significantly higher interest rates than borrowers with stronger credit histories.

Here is a breakdown of average auto loan interest rates by credit score, according to 2025 auto loan data:

• Super-prime (781-850): 5.25% for new cars, 7.13% for used cars
• Prime (661-780): 6.87% for new cars, 9.36% for used cars
• Non-prime (601-660): 9.83% for new cars, 13.92% for used cars
• Subprime (501-600): 13.18% for new cars, 18.86% for used cars
• Deep subprime (300-500): 15.77% for new cars, 21.55% for used cars

Mortgages at a 484 Credit Score

A 484 credit score is considered poor and will significantly limit your mortgage options. You won't qualify for a conventional loan, making government-backed programs your most likely route. The primary option for borrowers with low credit is an FHA-insured loan, but even these typically require a minimum score of 500. While some specialty lenders might consider lower scores, securing approval will be difficult.

If you find a lender willing to work with you, expect less favorable terms. A low credit score means you will face higher interest rates, increasing the total cost of your loan by thousands over its lifetime. For an FHA loan, you will also be required to make a larger down payment—at least 10% of the home's purchase price—to offset the risk to the lender.

What's in a Credit Score?

Figuring out what goes into your credit score can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle, but it's primarily based on a handful of key financial habits. The most common factors include:

• Your payment history tracks whether you have paid past credit accounts on time.
• Credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you are currently using.
• The length of your credit history considers the age of your oldest account and the average age of all your accounts.
• Having a healthy mix of credit types, such as credit cards and installment loans, can positively impact your score.
• Recent credit inquiries and newly opened accounts can temporarily lower your score.

How to Improve Your 484 Credit Score

Having a 484 credit score can feel limiting, but it is entirely possible to rebuild your financial standing. According to proven methods, taking consistent, strategic steps can lead to significant improvement over time.

• Establish Automatic Bill Payments. Since payment history is the single most important factor in your credit score, ensuring every bill is paid on time is the most critical step to stop your score from falling further and begin rebuilding. This demonstrates reliability to lenders and directly addresses the largest component of your FICO score.
• Apply for a Secured Credit Card. A secured card requires a cash deposit as collateral, making it accessible even with a poor score and allowing you to build a positive payment history. As your responsible usage is reported to credit bureaus, it helps establish a track record that can improve your score.
• Reduce Your Credit Utilization Ratio. This ratio is the second-most influential factor in your score, so paying down balances on any existing cards to get below the recommended 30% threshold can provide a significant boost. For a low score, high utilization is often a major issue that can be directly addressed.
• Monitor Your Credit Reports Regularly. You can get free reports to check for errors or signs of identity theft that could be unfairly damaging your score. Disputing and removing inaccuracies is one of the quickest ways to see a potential score increase.

Using a financial companion like Kudos can help you manage your cards and monitor your score as you work to improve it.