Average vs. Median — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 11, 2023
Average is the sum of values divided by number of values; Median is the middle value in an ordered list.
Difference Between Average and Median
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Average and Median are both measures of central tendency, but they represent different concepts. The Average is calculated by summing up all the values in a dataset and then dividing by the number of values. This provides a mean value that represents the dataset as a whole. On the other hand, Median refers to the middle value when the dataset is arranged in ascending or descending order. If there's an even number of values, the Median is the average of the two middle numbers.
Average and Median are useful in different contexts. The Average gives an overall representation of the dataset, but it can be skewed by outliers or extreme values. For instance, if one person in a group has an exceptionally high salary, the Average salary of the group might give a misleadingly high value. Median, however, is more resilient to such outliers. If that high earner is included in a dataset, the Median salary might remain unchanged, as it focuses on the middle value.
Both Average and Median can provide insights about a dataset, but their interpretations can differ significantly. An equal Average and Median might suggest that the dataset is symmetric, with values distributed evenly around the mean. However, if the Average is higher than the Median, it may indicate that the dataset has some high outliers. Conversely, if the Median is higher than the Average, it could mean there are low outliers.
It's important to choose between Average and Median based on the nature of the data and what one intends to communicate. For general information, the Average might be more intuitive. But when it's crucial to avoid the influence of extreme values, the Median might be more appropriate. Lastly, while both can describe the central tendency, neither provides information on data spread or variability, so they are often used in conjunction with other statistics.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Sum of values divided by number of values.
Middle value in an ordered list.
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Sensitivity to Outliers
Highly sensitive.
Resistant.
Calculation
Sum all values and divide by count.
Order values and find the middle.
Represents
Mean value of dataset.
Middle value, separating higher and lower halves.
Interpretation
Can be skewed by extreme values.
More stable representation in presence of outliers.
Compare with Definitions
Average
A representation of a set's central value by dividing its sum by its count.
The average score of the students was 85.
Median
The middle number in a given sequence of numbers.
In the series 2, 5, 9, the median is 5.
Average
A common or typical amount.
The average person visits the dentist twice a year.
Median
A line dividing a roadway.
The car crossed the median and crashed into oncoming traffic.
Average
Achieving a level typical of a group or class.
Her performance was just average.
Median
A statistical measure representing the value below which a given percentage falls.
The median age in the city is 35 years.
Average
A level viewed as normal or typical.
The gas price is above average this month.
Median
A middle point or position.
The town lies near the median of the country.
Average
In colloquial language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a non-empty list of numbers. Different concepts of average are used in different contexts.
Median
In statistics and probability theory, the median is the value separating the higher half from the lower half of a data sample, a population, or a probability distribution. For a data set, it may be thought of as "the middle" value.
Average
A number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data, in particular the mode, median, or (most commonly) the mean, which is calculated by dividing the sum of the values in the set by their number
The proportion of over-60s is above the EU average of 19 per cent
Median
Relating to, located in, or extending toward the middle.
Average
The apportionment of financial liability resulting from loss of or damage to a ship or its cargo.
Median
(Anatomy) Of, relating to, or situated in or near the plane that divides a bilaterally symmetrical animal into right and left halves; mesial.
Average
Constituting the result obtained by adding together several amounts and then dividing this total by the number of amounts
The average temperature in May was 4°C below normal
Median
(Statistics) Relating to or constituting the middle value in a distribution.
Average
Amount to or achieve as an average rate or amount over a period of time; mean
Annual inflation averaged 2.4 per cent
Median
A median point, plane, line, or part.
Average
A number that typifies a set of numbers of which it is a function.
Median
The dividing area, either paved or landscaped, between opposing lanes of traffic on some highways. Also called regionally boulevard, mall, median strip, meridian, neutral ground.
Average
See arithmetic mean.
Median
(Statistics) The middle value in a distribution, above and below which lie an equal number of values.
Average
An intermediate level or degree
Near the average in size.
Median
A line that joins a vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.
Average
The usual or ordinary kind or quality
Although the wines vary, the average is quite good.
Median
The line that joins the midpoints of the nonparallel sides of a trapezoid.
Average
(Sports)The ratio of a team's or player's successful performances such as wins, hits, or goals, divided by total opportunities for successful performance, such as games, times at bat, or shots
Finished the season with a .500 average.
A batting average of .274.
Median
A central vein or nerve, especially the median vein or median nerve running through the forearm and arm.
Average
The loss of a ship or cargo, caused by damage at sea.
Median
(geometry) A line segment joining the vertex of triangle to the midpoint of the opposing side.
Average
The incurrence of damage or loss of a ship or cargo at sea.
Median
(statistics) A number separating the higher half from the lower half of a data sample, population, or probability distribution. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to highest value and picking the middle one (e.g., the median of {3, 3, 5, 9, 11} is 5). If there is an even number of observations, then there is no single middle value; the median is then usually defined to be the mean of the two middle values.
Average
The equitable distribution of such a loss among concerned parties.
Median
(US) The area separating two lanes of opposite-direction traffic; the median strip.
Average
A charge incurred through such a loss.
Median
(anatomy) Situated in a middle, central, or intermediate part, section, or range of (something).
Average
(Nautical)Small expenses or charges that are usually paid by the master of a ship.
Median
In the middle of an organ, structure etc.; towards the median plane of an organ or limb.
Average
(Mathematics)Of, relating to, or constituting an average.
Median
(statistics) Having the median as its value.
Average
Being intermediate between extremes, as on a scale
A movie of average length.
A player of average ability.
Median
Being in the middle; running through the middle; as, a median groove.
Average
Usual or ordinary in kind or character
A poll of average people.
Average eyesight.
Median
Situated in the middle; lying in a plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and left halves; - said of unpaired organs and parts; as, median coverts.
Average
Assessed in accordance with the law of averages.
Median
A median line or point.
Average
(Mathematics)To calculate the average of
Average a set of numbers.
Median
The value below which 50% of the cases fall
Average
To do or have an average of
Averaged three hours of work a day.
Median
Relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in an even-numbered set);
The median value of 17, 20, and 36 is 20
The median income for the year was $15,000
Average
To distribute proportionately
Average one's income over four years so as to minimize the tax rate.
Median
Dividing an animal into right and left halves
Average
To be or amount to an average
Some sparrows are six inches long, but they average smaller. Our expenses averaged out to 45 dollars per day.
Median
Relating to or situated in or extending toward the middle
Average
(mathematics) The arithmetic mean.
2=The average of 10, 20 and 24 is (10 + 20 + 24)/3 = 18.
Median
The value separating the higher half from the lower half in an ordered list.
The median salary of the employees is $50,000.
Average
(statistics) Any measure of central tendency, especially any mean, the median, or the mode.
Average
Financial loss due to damage to transported goods; compensation for damage or loss.
Average
Customs duty or similar charge payable on transported goods.
Average
Proportional or equitable distribution of financial expense.
Average
(sports) An indication of a player's ability calculated from his scoring record, etc.
Batting average
Average
In the corn trade, the medial price of the several kinds of grain in the principal corn markets.
Average
The service that a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the animals of the tenant, such as the transportation of wheat, turf, etc.
Average
(not comparable) Constituting or relating to the average.
The average age of the participants was 18.5.
Average
Neither very good nor very bad; rated somewhere in the middle of all others in the same category.
I soon found I was only an average chess player.
Average
Typical.
The average family will not need the more expensive features of this product.
Average
(informal) Not outstanding, not good, banal; bad or poor.
Average
(transitive) To compute the average of, especially the arithmetic mean.
If you average 10, 20 and 24, you get 18.
Average
(transitive) Over a period of time or across members of a population, to have or generate a mean value of.
The daily high temperature last month averaged 15°C.
I averaged 75% in my examinations this year.
Average
(transitive) To divide among a number, according to a given proportion.
To average a loss
Average
(intransitive) To be, generally or on average.
Average
That service which a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the work beasts of the tenant, as the carriage of wheat, turf, etc.
Average
A tariff or duty on goods, etc.
Average
A mean proportion, medial sum or quantity, made out of unequal sums or quantities; an arithmetical mean. Thus, if A loses 5 dollars, B 9, and C 16, the sum is 30, and the average 10.
Average
Any medial estimate or general statement derived from a comparison of diverse specific cases; a medium or usual size, quantity, quality, rate, etc.
Average
In the English corn trade, the medial price of the several kinds of grain in the principal corn markets.
Average
Pertaining to an average or mean; medial; containing a mean proportion; of a mean size, quality, ability, etc.; ordinary; usual; as, an average rate of profit; an average amount of rain; the average Englishman; beings of the average stamp.
Average
According to the laws of averages; as, the loss must be made good by average contribution.
Average
To find the mean of, when sums or quantities are unequal; to reduce to a mean.
Average
To divide among a number, according to a given proportion; as, to average a loss.
Average
To do, accomplish, get, etc., on an average.
Average
To form, or exist in, a mean or medial sum or quantity; to amount to, or to be, on an average; as, the losses of the owners will average twenty five dollars each; these spars average ten feet in length.
Average
A statistic describing the location of a distribution;
It set the norm for American homes
Average
Amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain;
The number of hours I work per work averages out to 40
Average
Achieve or reach on average;
He averaged a C
Average
Compute the average of
Average
Approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value;
The average income in New England is below that of the nation
Of average height for his age
The mean annual rainfall
Average
Lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered;
Average people
The ordinary (or common) man in the street
Average
Of no exceptional quality or ability;
A novel of average merit
Only a fair performance of the sonata
In fair health
The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
The performance was middling at best
Average
Around the middle of a scale of evaluation of physical measures;
An orange of average size
Intermediate capacity
A plane with intermediate range
Medium bombers
Average
Relating to or constituting the most frequent value in a distribution;
The modal age at which American novelists reach their peak is 30
Average
Relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in an even-numbered set);
The median value of 17, 20, and 36 is 20
The median income for the year was $15,000
Average
A mathematical mean.
To determine the product's cost, take the average of all prices.
Common Curiosities
How is Median different from Average?
Median is the middle value in an ordered list, while Average is the sum of values divided by the number of values.
What does Average represent in statistics?
Average represents the mean value of a dataset by summing up all values and dividing by the number of values.
How can you calculate Average?
Sum all values in a dataset and divide by the number of values.
Can Average be skewed by outliers?
Yes, Average can be significantly affected by extreme values or outliers.
Is Median affected by extreme values?
No, Median is more resistant to outliers than Average.
When might one prefer to use Median over Average?
Median might be preferred when it's crucial to avoid the influence of extreme values or outliers.
Can both Average and Median be used to describe a dataset's central tendency?
Yes, both describe central tendency, but their interpretations can differ.
What does it mean if Average and Median are the same in a dataset?
It might suggest the dataset is symmetric, with values distributed evenly around the mean.
What is the average of the numbers 2, 4, and 6?
The average is (2+4+6)/3 = 4.
What is the median of the numbers 3, 8, and 5?
When ordered, the numbers are 3, 5, 8. So, the median is 5.
What does the Median tell us about a dataset?
Median indicates the middle value, effectively separating the higher half from the lower half in the dataset.
Are Average and Median always close in value?
Not necessarily. Depending on the data distribution and outliers, Average and Median can differ significantly.
How do you determine the Median of an even set of numbers?
For an even set, the Median is the average of the two middle numbers.
How does the presence of outliers impact the Average?
Outliers can significantly skew the Average, making it higher or lower than the central value of most data points.
Does Median give information about data spread or variability?
No, Median only provides information on central tendency, not on data spread.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
