Mean vs. Median

The mean and the median are two different ways to represent the center of a data set. The mean can easily be influenced by large or small values, called outliers, in the data. In cases with outliers, the median is a better way to identify the middle of a data set. If the data set has a large number of values and there are no outliers, using the mean is the best way to determine the center of the data. Meteorologists and climatologists consider both values and will use the value that best describes the middle or center of the data set.