Credit Trends

Credit Scores By State

While the average credit score in the United States is 664, the average credit score in states can vary considerably.

We thought it would be fun to share some interesting tidbits of information that shine through as we look at credit scores across the states. These credit score facts are based on information compiled from a large database of credit scores in the United States. This means the term national average credit score and average US credit score can be used interchangeably.

From the Credit Karma database, we know the following facts about credit scores by states for this month:

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USER COMMENTS(16)

mhmwatkins
Oct 13
11:11 pm

This looks more like a map of poverty than anything else to me. There aren't any confidence intervals here... this graph doesn't show much for comparison between states. How big a difference is 50 points on a credit score? Yeah, maybe 100 points is pretty big, but scores have a range and I don't think this map shows much.

CK Moderator

I guess we could show the standard deviation, but our goal is not to create a stats site. This is meant to be informal data.

cactusjuba
Sep 28
3:55 pm

You can correlate a lot of things from this. Political party, sure. Percent of obesity is another.

Interesting comment about correlation of political party to credit scores. Some truth, but mostly non-truths. As was said before, credit scores measure how well you pay off your debt. So if you dont have debt, it shows a lower score. Fiscal responsibility in some cultures have different meanings. In Southern Cal, it would be to make on-time payments on your 10 credit cards that were spent on material unessentials, like clothes and chrome wheels on a BMW. In the rural Midwest, financial responsibility would be to save up money and buy a used car with cash. Yet, who would have the higher "credit score"? The Californian. Now if there were a color coded map based on debt/income ratio, I wouldn't be shocked to see a reversal, except of course for the deep south.

imkain
Nov 5
10:12 am

I completely agree with your statement here. The west tend to be financially irresponsible while the east tends to be financially responsible, however we tend to pay cash for items, yet our credit score suffers from that...since we weren't taught to go out and get a credit card and build our credit in that fashion.

dharr2q
Sep 13
10:28 am

MN and DC are in the lead.

deadclock
Oct 13
1:34 pm

No one is even close to 695 of Minnesota. Go them I guess. What makes them good and most of the rest of us suck?

kenny1sky
Aug 18
12:51 am

Gee Darwon, how observant you are! So let me see if I follow your logic...being highly in debt for a long period of time is a good thing right? California and New York are on the brink of financial colapse, and these "blue states" are the example to follow? oh and just for the record, the blue states were republican till the liberal media changed them after the Reagan landslide victory (of 48-2)

skolluri
Jul 28
12:01 pm

MA and NJ are in the lead...

bryantn
Jun 19
2:35 pm

Your credit score does not represent your level of responsibility with money...it represents your level of responsibility with DEBT.

Most of the states with higher average scores also have higher costs of living, and the associated level of indebtedness that goes with that, this includes of course, higher credit limits and in turn, more variety in balance to limit ratios, as well as much more depth in personal credit history where people have had and paid off larger numbers of loans and credit cards.

In rural states there are still many people who have little to no credit history, people who still pay their bills primarily by cash or check and don't make use of credit cards at all. Because they have very brief credit histories, naturally their credit scores will be lower.

Remember, a credit score simply tells a lender how likely you are to pay your bill on time...it says nothing about how you manage your money outside of those constraints.

VanEnoo
Oct 8
3:51 pm

Very, very true bryantn. In the US, you are guilty until proven inocent in the case of a credit score. If you have no loans or credit cards, you have a low or no credit rating. If on the other hand, you have a high mortgage and lots of credit cards, you get a high credit rating. there is something intrinsically wrong with this system.

matas
May 25
5:58 pm

Correction: *MA* and AK are in the lead

Martin7
May 10
3:14 pm

VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION.

THANK YOU!

Edkelly
May 4
6:29 pm

Wow Darwon - Good observation, maybe that is why all of the deregulation from the Bush Administration is why AIG and all of the banks need bailouts.

darwon
Apr 18
7:18 pm

Isn't it ironic that this map almost perfectly mirrors the blue state vs. red state maps of presidential elections. Apparently those who constantly talk about personal responsibility aren't very responsible after all. It's just like all of the "upstanding" churchgoers screaming about virtue...and leading a life of vice.

The hypocrisy in this nation is unparalleled.