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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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.

mhmwatkins 10 months ago

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.

CK Moderator

All of these blanket stab responses come as no surprise to me. You cant just reach into thin air put a trend on an entire states average credit score based on stereotypical culture. All credit scores represent is a span of time monitoring an individuals ability to use credit wisely or not. Individually using credit certainly has nothing to do with political view, especially if you belong to neither party. You can live life just getting by or filthy rich and have an 800 score in either case or a 500 score in either case. If you have to point to a more pertinent demographic, the most relevant factors to FICO and credit score is likely due to age of individual and longevity of their credit history practices.

madpuppy54 6 months ago

I see this chart as just a fun way to compare your state to other states as far as credit score rating. It is what it is and I think trying to read more into the information is silly. The average score for your state is in no way indicative of your personal score. For example, I live in Louisiana which unfortunately has the lowest average score in the country next to Mississippi. However, my personal credit score is currently 763. I was born, grew up, went to college and currently live in Louisiana. So as you can see it doesn't make much sense to generalize an entire state based on their average credit score.

minislap 6 months ago

This isn't a map of financial responsibility. Someone who has never had a credit card (credit history) could be very credit worthy, but they don't have a high score. I think the value in this map is your chances of obtaining a good loan in each state. The lenders will compare your score to the average of the people in the city or the state, and you may need a higher score in California just to compete.

janiesuper 6 months ago

I am told my credit score of 781 will not improve unless I activate more credit accounts. Less than 20 active credit accounts is less than optimum when calculating credit worthiness.

krross49 6 months ago

This can't be very accurate. I work at a large nat'l bank..with the number of people in the sunshine states who are in some stage of foreclosure or have already been foreclosed on...yet they are some of the higher states overall?

lyon1977 6 months ago

My credit score on CreditKarma.com, Quizzle.com and Credit.com is markedly lower than each of these sites. What is the explanation for that since each of the sites pull our scores from each one of these credit reporting agencies?

JohnHoer 6 months ago

Credit scores vary according to bureau's and models. We use the Transrisk score from TransUnion.

CK Moderator

I'm not sure how much faith I have in Credit Karma's rating system. I've had my accounts many years, never once been late in my payments, even paying many times ahead. Yet my score is only 778. I get an "F" rating just because I have 10 credit accounts (6 open, and 4 closed)... that makes zero sense for a rating.

tcoolong 6 months ago

Our goal is to help users identify areas they need to improve by providing comparative metrics against other members. This means that other people with 10 accounts don't have as many closed accounts as you do. We want to remind users that you can have a good score, but you can still improve this area and your overall score.

CK Moderator

Wow! Let me understand you: you are COMPLAINING because your score is "only" 778? I have ONLY a mortgage and car payment; never late ever. No credit card--and THAT drags my score down (it's an "F" in variety of accounts category) believe it or not--to 766. Please: fall on your knees and give thanks and quit whining: people must be begging on THEIR knees for you to borrow with such a score. Who WANTS to borrow? I'd pay cash for everything were it possible and would never, ever own a credit card, regardless of the effect on my score.

AaronScott 6 months ago

How can i see my complete credit report.I know i don't have any mortgage and certainly i don't have 15 accounts as shown by your report.Am i a victim of identity theft. How can i correct my report. Any suggestion.

Thanks

amol77 6 months ago

You should inquire at www.annualcreditreport.com to see if you qualify for a free government report. Otherwise, you should contact www.TransUnion.com to dispute the information if you believe it is incorrect.

CK Moderator

All the liberal states have the highest scores. All the right wing states, the lowest. Tells ya something.

Barbi520 6 months ago

Utah is very conservative state, arguably the most conservative in the nation and they are in the highest credit group. Alaska and Colorado(leaned conservative historically) are also in the highest group. Many conservative states in the West have fairly high scores (AZ, MT, ID, etc.). There may be a correlation but its a weak one and I don't think it really tells us anything meaningful.

csandb 6 months ago

Yeah, tells me that liberal states go into more debt. "Conservative" states credit scores are likely low because more people refuse to go into debt and therefore have no or low credit scores.

nickbyfleet 6 months ago

When did UT become liberal?

harrel25 6 months ago

OK. Tells us what?

dallen92 6 months ago

on my credit report my credit card utilization show 100% but i have a D in that field. But an a in ontime Payments.. my Score is a 645 . :/

PattyHearse1 6 months ago

You are probably spending too close to your credit card limit. This is a negative factor. You should only spend less than half of your credit limit each month. Even though you pay all your payments on time, having a high balance each month hurts your score.

CK Moderator