Mean, Median, and Mode: How to Calculate Each and When to Use Them
Learn the difference between mean, median, and mode with simple examples, and see which average best describes your data.
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Definitions
Each describes the center of a data set in a different way.
- Mean: the sum of all values divided by how many values there are.
- Median: the middle value after sorting the data.
- Mode: the value that appears most often.
Example with 3, 5, 5, 7, 10
The sum is 30 and there are 5 values, so the mean is 6. Sorted, the middle value is 5, so the median is 5. The number 5 appears twice, so the mode is 5.
With an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. For 2, 4, 6, 8, the median is (4 + 6) / 2 = 5.
Which one should you use?
A data set can have no mode, one mode, or several modes.
| Measure | Best for | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Mean | Evenly spread numeric data | Pulled by extreme values |
| Median | Skewed data such as incomes or house prices | Ignores the exact size of each value |
| Mode | Most common category or value | May not exist or may have several values |
FAQ
Is average the same as mean?
In everyday use, average usually means the mean, though median and mode are also types of averages.
Why use the median instead of the mean?
The median is less affected by very large or very small values, so it is better for skewed data.
Can there be more than one mode?
Yes. If two or more values tie for the highest frequency, the data set has multiple modes.
