Consumer debt breaks down into a few different areas. People can borrow to study, buy a home, finance a vehicle, or make everyday purchases. An analysis of Credit Karma data from our member base of more than 40 million consumers reveals the 15 cities in the US where our members have the highest average amounts of consumer debt.
In general, the cities on this list share two broad traits. According to US Census data, many of these cities have a higher-than-average number of people who own their homes rather than rent, and their residents are also more likely than the average person in the US to have at least a bachelor’s degree. According to the New York Fed, mortgage debt is the biggest contributor to consumer debt, with student loans a distant second place.
Here is the full list of US cities where Credit Karma members have the most consumer debt:
15 US Cities With Most Consumer Debt
- Frisco, TX, $116,037.77
- Scottsdale, AZ, $112,559.64
- Simi Valley, CA, $107,603.20
- Naperville, IL, $104,067.54
- Bellevue, WA, $103,204.96
- Irvine, CA, $102,916.27
- Alexandria, VA, $102,806.80
- Gilbert, AZ, $102,703.85
- Fremont, CA, $100,523.84
- Roseville, CA, $98,991.02
- Corona, CA, $97,079.41
- Arlington, VA, $96,081.81
- Huntington Beach, CA, $92,942.00
- Cary, NC, $91,911.69
- Elk Grove, CA, $91,189.54
* Based on all Credit Karma members who pulled their credit profile data from July 2014 through June 2015 and live in a city with a population greater than 100,000.