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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MN and AK in the lead. I guess the cold weather gives people more time to make sure all their bills are paid.

ebrandel 1 year ago

Both states have social welfare. AK has the oil revenues giveaway (and the tax on extracting oil). MN is kind of socialist. When the government is your buffer, it's probably easier to manage debt. For one, one might be less likely to acquire debt.

wildgift 7 months ago

Actually NJ has MN beat, and given the high taxes here, I think that's pretty impressive.

Then again, this site says my score is something like 765 when it's really only 726, so it makes you question the accuracy a bit...

Jeo123 3 months ago

You are falling for the common myth that you only have one score. In actuality, consumers have dozens of scores for each of the different bureaus. For example, what bureau is the 726 from?

CK Moderator

Excellent tool to manage finances

peladito 1 year ago

Actually, this is a pretty impressive story nationwide!

peterjameshu 1 year ago

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.

Edkelly 1 year ago

VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION.

THANK YOU!

Martin7 1 year ago

Correction: *MA* and AK are in the lead

matas 1 year ago

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.

bryantn 1 year ago

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.

VanEnoo 10 months ago

MA and NJ are in the lead...

skolluri 1 year ago

MN and DC are in the lead.

dharr2q 11 months ago

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?

deadclock 10 months ago

Perhaps a factor for DC is that it has a high percentage of well-paid government employees with good health insurance and a huge percentage of bankruptcies are as a result of inability to pay medical bills.

As for Minnesota, it does have probably the cleanest politics in the nation. Possibly an intolerance for corruption also extends into personal behavior...ie, if you borrow, you pay back.

Then again, maybe it's just random happenstance.

sfnoev 8 months ago

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.

cactusjuba 11 months ago

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.

imkain 9 months ago

Talk about stereotyping. I saved up and bought a new mini truck with cash. I carry little debt and pay my bills ahead of time. My score is around 770, and I'm 100% Californian, Los Angeleno. I'm also a liberal, and support unions.

wildgift 7 months ago