Enter a list of numbers to find the mean, median, mode, range, variance, and standard deviation.
Mean, median, and mode are three ways to describe the "center" of a data set. The mean (arithmetic average) is the sum of all values divided by the count. The median is the middle value when data is sorted. The mode is the most frequently occurring value. Each tells a different story about your data, and choosing the right one depends on context.
Enter your data set as comma-separated numbers. The calculator shows the mean, median, mode (or modes, if multiple values tie), range, count, sum, and a sorted view of the data. It also shows which measure is most appropriate given your data's distribution.
Mean is best for symmetric data without extreme outliers. It uses all data points and is the most commonly reported average. Median is better for skewed data or data with outliers. Income data uses median because a few extremely high earners pull the mean up dramatically. Mode is useful for categorical data (most popular color, most common shoe size) and for identifying peaks in distributions. The Standard Deviation Calculator measures the spread around the mean.
Mean, median, and mode each tell a different story about your data. The mean (average) is sensitive to outliers: a single billionaire in a room of average earners dramatically inflates the mean income. The median (middle value when sorted) resists outliers and is the preferred measure for skewed distributions like income, home prices, and medical costs. The mode (most frequent value) is useful for categorical data (the most popular color, the most common shoe size) and discrete distributions. Real estate agents strategically choose mean or median depending on which better supports their narrative. When someone says "the average home price is $500,000," ask whether they mean the average or the median, as these can differ by 20 to 40% in markets with high-end properties.