That’s because of a combination of rising asset prices, especially American stocks and real estate, and lower household debt. Total household net worth, which is assets minus liabilities, was $50.4 trillion in the first quarter of 2009 when Mr. Obama took office. It was $62.7 trillion in the second quarter 2012, which ended June 30. Mr. Zandi and other economists predict that it will be significantly higher for the third quarter ending this month thanks to this summer’s stock market rally and recent strong gains in housing prices. It might soon hit the peak of $67.4 trillion reached in the third quarter of 2007.

A healthy household balance sheet is a crucial measure of financial security, and it affects a majority of the population. According to a Gallup poll this year, 54 percent of Americans said they owned stock either directly or indirectly through mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and retirement plans. In that regard, they are much better off now than when Mr. Obama took office.

From January 2009 until this week, the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index had gained over 55 percent. The Nasdaq composite index has surpassed levels last reached in 2007. There has been a stream of headlines and news reports about stocks hitting new highs.

Even more Americans own real estate. Sixty-two percent reported owning homes in April, according to Gallup. Housing prices are still far below their 2006 peak, but most of the collapse took place before Mr. Obama took office. The Case-Shiller index of 20 cities stood at 146.34 in January 2009 and hit a low of 134.10 in March of this year, according to Standard & Poor’s, which compiles the index. This week it was 144.61, a steep 1.6 percent monthly rise from August. Even the hardest-hit low end of the market showed strong gains, and many commentators predicted housing prices had bottomed and begun a sustained rise.

The luxury housing market, especially in cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami, has fared even better, with many properties selling at headline-grabbing record prices. At the extreme upper end, several Manhattan condos have recently sold at prices close to $100 million.

For voters with short-term memories, these trends have been even more pronounced in the last year. Stock prices are up about 14 percent so far in 2012, and much of the gain in housing prices has come in recent months.