Median Calculator
Median, minimum and maximum of a list of numbers.
How it works
After sorting: odd count → middle value; even count → mean of the two middle values
The median splits data in half, half above and half below. Unlike the mean, it is not easily skewed by outliers.
FAQ
How to find the median with an even count?
Average the two middle values after sorting. E.g. median of 1, 2, 3, 4 is (2+3)/2 = 2.5.
Worked example
Data 2, 4, 4, 5, 9 (sorted, n=5): the median is the 3rd value, 4.
With an even count 2, 4, 5, 9: average the middle two, (4+5) ÷ 2 = 4.5.
Notes and limitations
The median resists outliers, which is why income, housing and salary reports use it. The trade-off is that it ignores the magnitude of most values and is unstable in very small samples.