These States Have the Biggest Debt Problem in America

By Allison Kade — Jul 31, 2019

Household debt in the U.S. is the highest it has ever been. According to the New York Fed, total household debt reached $13.67 trillion in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 0.9% from the fourth quarter of 2018 and nearly $1 trillion above its previous peak in 2008.

These statistics make sense in the larger context of the national economy. In general, household debt decreases during recessions, and increases during economic booms. That’s because banks often tighten borrowing requirements during recessions, making it difficult for consumers to take out loans.

With the U.S. economy more than ten years into its longest-ever expansion, it isn’t surprising that total household debt has increased for 19 consecutive quarters.

Debt isn’t a bad thing in itself, since debt can finance a variety of purchases, like homes, cars and education. But debt can become problematic if the borrower can’t repay the loan. Across all households, the percentage of loan balances in serious delinquency (90+ days late) is currently 4.5% for auto loans, 7.8% for credit card payments, 1.1% for mortgages and 11.4% for student loans.

Delinquencies also follow the ups and downs of the economy. During recessions, more people tend to skip out on their debt repayments; during periods of economic expansion, delinquencies tend to decrease. At the peak of the Great Recession in late 2009, 11.8% of total loan balances were at least 30 days delinquent. Compare that to the beginning of 2019, when that number was just 4.6%.

In other words, more Americans today effectively manage their debt and pay their bills on time.

“The key to managing debt is planning . . . Before you take on debt, you need to know three things: why you plan to take on the debt, how you are going to repay it and the date by which you will repay it,” explains Rod Griffin, Director of Consumer Education and Awareness at Experian.

Americans' total debt balance by delinquency status

People with certain loan types, in certain age groups and in certain states have more trouble paying off debts than others. To better understand how debt affects American families, financial services company Fabric analyzed statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Experian.

For each state, Fabric calculated a composite score based on 90+ day delinquency rates for auto loans, credit cards, mortgages and student loans.

Here’s what Fabric found:

Key Takeaways

line graph showing percent of people in serious delinquency by loan type and by age

Mortgage delinquencies have steadily decreased over the past decade. But student loan, credit card and auto loan delinquencies have all increased from 2018 to 2019. Combined with the generally strong economy, that suggests lenders are allowing consumers to borrow more money than they can afford—something families should bear in mind.

The data also shows that young households are especially prone to missing payments. According to Griffin, “There are many reasons people miss loan payments. Often, it’s as simple as forgetting to send the payment. Automated payments systems can be a great tool.”

graph depicting what percent of people are in serious delinquency on their auto loans and credit cards by age

For young families, auto loans and credit card debt are particularly troublesome. Young adults under 29 are far more likely to fall behind on their auto loan and credit card payments.

Scatter plot showing Americans' credit scores and poverty rates compared to delinquency rates in the country

As you might expect, there’s a strong link between payment history and long-term financial health. Across the U.S., strong payment histories are correlated with higher credit scores, easier access to capital and lower poverty rates. Conversely, loan delinquencies are associated with lower credit scores, limited access to capital and higher rates of poverty. This data further underscores the importance of managing debt and building strong credit from an early age.

map of U.S. showing delinquency rates by state

Some states have a higher rate of debt delinquency than others. This may be a result of local lending and borrowing practices, as well as social and economic differences.

If you live in a high-debt state, keep this in mind when considering a new loan. Fortunately, Griffin explained, people typically don’t incur unmanageable debt overnight (even if it feels that way!). It takes a long time to accumulate significant debt—and it takes time to recover.

So, recognizing those patterns as early as possible can make it easier to dig yourself back out. Great non-profit organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling provide assistance to families and individuals looking to get back on their feet in all 50 states.

Here are the states with the biggest debt problems: