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What is the demographic breakdown of Fox News viewers by age and income?
Executive Summary
Fox News’ audience is older than the general TV population and concentrated in middle-income households, but precise age and income slices vary across studies and over time; analysts report a median viewer age near the late 60s and a modal household income between $50,000 and $75,000 while also noting large shares under $50,000 [1] [2]. Network and Nielsen materials point to stronger 25–54 demo numbers in particular shows and to much higher incomes among viewers of Fox Business programming, highlighting substantial variation by sub-channel and program [3] [4].
1. Why the “older, middle-income” narrative sticks — and what the data actually says
A 2020 analysis found Fox News’ median household income lands in the $50,000–$74,999 range and highlighted that Fox attracts a relatively large share of viewers with household incomes under $50,000 (44.9%) compared with CNN and MSNBC, while all three networks trail the U.S. population in the share of households earning over $100,000 [1]. That same analysis also flagged that Fox’s audience is less likely to hold a college degree and is far more likely to be white, which shapes economic and age profiles through correlated social patterns [1]. These findings sketch a middle-to-lower middle income profile on average, but the headline descriptor “older, working- or middle-class” overgeneralizes the variation that exists by program and platform.
2. Median ages — consistent signals that cable news skews old
Several sources point to a high median age for cable news viewers, with Fox News’ median in the high-60s in multiple snapshots: historical reporting cited a median of 68 as of the mid-2010s and more recent assessments presented similar late-60s medians for Fox and CNN in 2023 [5] [2]. Nielsen audience-tone data showing Fox’s lead in total-day and primetime viewers does not overturn the age signal, because total viewer advantage can coexist with an older skew and because younger audiences increasingly migrate to digital and streaming platforms [6]. The persistent late-60s median age indicates structural aging of cable-news audiences, not a brief anomaly, and that should temper interpretations that Fox draws large younger cohorts despite strong 25–54 demo figures on specific programs.
3. Income is program-dependent — Fox Business vs. Fox News
Data for Fox Business demonstrates a contrasting pattern: Nielsen-reported program medians for several Fox Business shows in 2025 show very high median incomes in the 25–54 demo — often well over $140,000 and in some cases above $200,000, indicating an affluent subset within the broader corporate family [3] [4] [7]. This contrasts with the broader Fox News cable channel’s median household income near $50–75k and substantial population under $50k [1]. The divergence underscores that brand-level averages mask substantial internal heterogeneity: business-focused shows attract wealthier viewers while general-news and opinion programming skew older and middle-income or lower.
4. Conflicting or missing public data — why estimates diverge
Independent analyses, Pew fact sheets, and network-released marketing summaries offer fragments rather than a single authoritative profile. Pew’s cable-news fact sheet provides audience and revenue trends but lacks a detailed age/income cross-tab for Fox specifically, leaving analysts to synthesize Nielsen, academic, and network claims [8]. Fox’s own channel reports emphasize gains in Hispanic, Asian, and “upscale” viewers and tout demo wins in 25–54 slots, reflecting a promotional frame that spotlights strengths while downplaying overall median age or lower-income shares [9]. The result is a literature of partial datasets and different emphases; differences in measurement periods, definitions (e.g., median household vs. median individual income), and channel segmentation drive apparent contradictions.
5. Bottom line for readers: what you can reliably conclude
Convergent facts from multiple lines of reporting show that Fox News’ core linear cable audience skews older (median in the high 60s) and centers on middle-income households, with a notable portion under $50,000, while Fox Business and select shows attract a much wealthier audience [1] [2] [3]. Sources differ about magnitude and trend lines because of varying timeframes and promotional motives: independent analyses and Nielsen-derived reporting emphasize the older, less affluent average, while network materials emphasize 25–54 demo strength and pockets of affluence [1] [9] [4]. For precise, current cross-tabs by age and income you need the latest Nielsen or survey microdata; the public record consistently supports the older, middle-income profile with affluent program-level exceptions [1] [7].