How the median is calculated
The values are sorted from lowest to highest. If the count is odd, the median is the single middle value. If the count is even, the median is the mean of the two middle values.
Worked examples
For 2, 4, 4, 6, 9, the sorted list has five values, so the median is the third value: 4. For 2, 4, 6, 9, the two middle values are 4 and 6, so the median is (4 + 6) / 2 = 5.
How to interpret the result
The median marks the point where half the values are at or below it and half are at or above it. It is less affected by extreme values than the mean, which makes it useful for skewed data such as income, home prices or waiting times.
Common mistakes
- Using the middle entry before sorting the values.
- Forgetting to average the two middle values when the count is even.
- Assuming the median shows the total size of the dataset; it only describes the center.
When median is not enough
Median does not show spread. Two datasets can have the same median but very different ranges or standard deviations. Use it with mean, range or standard deviation when variation matters.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17