Money

Credit card debt by state

By Becca Bennett

Data & Guides Money Credit card debt by state

Credit card debt is a reality for many Americans, but the amount owed can vary significantly from state to state. A review of credit card debt by state can help provide a clearer picture of how balances are distributed across the country.

This article breaks down the average credit card balance per consumer in each U.S. state, highlights the states with the highest and lowest balances, and explores some of the factors that may contribute to those differences.

Key statistics

• The average credit card balance across all U.S. states stood at $6,557 as of April 2026.
• Washington D.C. had the highest average balance among all states at $7,673, while Wisconsin had the lowest at $5,195, a difference of $2,478.
• All five states with the highest average balances exceeded the national average by more than $700, while the four states with the lowest average balances fell more than $1,000 below the national figure.
• Maine recorded the largest year-over-year increase in average balance, rising 3.28% between April 2025 and April 2026.
• Wyoming recorded the smallest increase of any state over the same period, with balances rising just 0.89%.
• No state recorded a decline in average credit card balance between April 2025 and April 2026, with the national average rising 2.21% overall.
• Credit card debt totaled $1.25 trillion across the U.S. as of Q1 2026, accounting for approximately 6.6% of total household debt.

Total credit card debt across the U.S.

Across the U.S, credit card debt totaled $1.25 trillion as of the first quarter of 2026, making it fourth on the list of household debt categories. By comparison, mortgages remain by far the largest component of household debt at $13.19 trillion, followed by auto loans at $1.69 trillion and student loans at $1.66 trillion.

Altogether, these categories bring total U.S. household debt to $18.8 trillion in Q1 2026. Within this total, credit card debt accounts for approximately 6.6% of all household debt, a relatively small share when measured against mortgage debt, which makes up roughly 70% of the total.

Source [1] New York Fed, “Household Debt Balances Rise SLightly as Delinquency Transition Rates Hold Steady” https://www.newyorkfed.org/newsevents/news/research/2026/20260512

Average credit card balance by state

As of April 2026, the average credit card balance per consumer across all states stands at $6,557. Balances vary considerably by state, ranging from $5,195 in Wisconsin to $7,673 in Washington D.C., a difference of $2,478 between the lowest and highest.

The five states with the highest average balances are:

1. Washington D.C. - $7,673
2. Alaska - $7,642
3. Hawaii - $7,425
4. Nevada - $7,262
5. Maryland - $7,259

The five states with the lowest average balances are:

1. Wisconsin - $5,195
2. Iowa - $5,254
3. West Virginia - $5,490
4. Kentucky - $5,500
5. Indiana - $5,564

All five of the highest-balance states exceed the national average by more than $700, while the four lowest each fall more than $1,000 below the national figure.

Source [2] TransUnion, “2026 April Monthly Snapshot” https://www.transunion.com/content/dam/transunion/us/business/collateral/report/1-fs/2026-april-monthly-snapshot.pdf

Credit card balance increases by state

Average credit card balances vary significantly from state to state, likely shaped by factors such as cost of living, income levels, and regional spending habits. Tracking how these balances change year over year offers insight into broader trends in consumer borrowing and financial pressure across the country.

States with the largest increases in average credit card balances

1. Maine recorded the biggest percentage rise, with average balances increasing 3.28% from $5,668 in April 2025 to $5,854 in April 2026.
2. Rhode Island followed with a 3.22% increase, rising from $6,213 to $6,413.
3. Tennessee saw balances grow 3.05%, from $6,071 to $6,256.
4. South Carolina increased 2.99%, from $6,354 to $6,544.
5. Hawaii rounded out the top five with a 2.98% rise, from $7,210 to $7,425.

States with the smallest increases in average credit card balances

1. Wyoming recorded the smallest increase of any state, with balances rising just 0.89% from $6,207 to $6,262 between April 2025 and April 2026.
2. Colorado followed with a 1.32% increase, from $6,768 to $6,857.
3. Kansas saw balances grow 1.34%, from $5,755 to $5,832.
4. West Virginia increased 1.39%, from $5,415 to $5,490.
5. Nebraska rounded out the bottom five with a 1.40% rise, from $5,555 to $5,633.

Across the U.S.

• No state recorded a decline; all 50 states and Washington D.C. saw average balances rise between April 2025 and April 2026.
• The national average credit card balance increased by 2.21%, from $6,415 to $6,557 between April 2025 and April 2026.

Sources [2] TransUnion, “2026 April Monthly Snapshot” https://www.transunion.com/content/dam/transunion/us/business/collateral/report/1-fs/2026-april-monthly-snapshot.pdf

Estimated total credit card debt by state

Based on a combination of data from the latest TransUnion report and the latest Census population figures, the data below shows the estimated total credit card balance in each state.

California has the highest total estimated balance by a significant margin, at roughly $179.7 billion, followed by Texas at $138.4 billion and Florida at $109.0 billion.

New York rounds out the top four with approximately $86.7 billion, ahead of Illinois at $52.1 billion.

Wyoming has the lowest total estimated balance at approximately $2.3 billion, followed by Vermont at $2.5 billion and North Dakota at $2.9 billion.

Data note: See methodology for how these estimates were calculated.

Sources [3] Census, “State Population by Characteristics” https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-detail.html [4] Federal Reserve, “Report on the Economic Wellbeing of U.S. Households in 2024” https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2025-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2024-banking-and-credit.htm

What to do if you have a high credit card balance

Carrying a high credit card balance, particularly if payments fall behind, can lead to serious financial consequences. There are steps you could consider taking to address it.

• Contact your credit card company first. Reaching out early may improve the chances of avoiding a debt in collections, damage to a credit report, or a potential lawsuit. Contacting the credit card company early can improve the chances of avoiding a debt in collection, damage to a credit report, and a potential lawsuit or bankruptcy.
• Be cautious of debt settlement companies. These companies may encourage consumers to stop paying their credit card bills and instead make payments into a third-party account, while interest, late fees and other charges continue to accrue, increasing the balance owed and negatively affecting credit scores. Working directly with a card issuer is generally more cost-effective.
• Seek free credit counseling. Nonprofit credit counseling organizations can create a debt management plan often covering all debts through a single monthly payment, typically free of charge.

[4] Federal Reserve, “Report on the Economic Wellbeing of U.S. Households in 2024” https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2025-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2024-banking-and-credit.htm

Methodology

To calculate the estimated total credit card debt by state, the following methodology was used.

Total credit card debt by state is estimated by multiplying each state's adult cardholder population by the average credit card balance per consumer using:

• Resident population age 18 and older (July 1, 2025) [3] Census, “State Population by Characteristics” https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-detail.html
• Share of adults with a credit card (81%) [4] Federal Reserve, “Report on the Economic Wellbeing of U.S. Households in 2024” https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2025-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2024-banking-and-credit.htm
• Average credit card balance per consumer (April 2026): TransUnion Monthly Industry Snapshot, September 2025 release. This figure represents the average bankcard balance among consumers with at least one open account. [2] TransUnion, “2026 April Monthly Snapshot” https://www.transunion.com/content/dam/transunion/us/business/collateral/report/1-fs/2026-april-monthly-snapshot.pdf

Formula:

Total state credit card debt = Resident population 18+ × 0.81 × Average balance per consumer

Sources

• ^[1] New York Fed, “Household Debt Balances Rise SLightly as Delinquency Transition Rates Hold Steady” https://www.newyorkfed.org/newsevents/news/research/2026/20260512
• ^[2] TransUnion, “2026 April Monthly Snapshot” https://www.transunion.com/content/dam/transunion/us/business/collateral/report/1-fs/2026-april-monthly-snapshot.pdf
• ^[3] Census, “State Population by Characteristics” https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-detail.html
• ^[4] Federal Reserve, “Report on the Economic Wellbeing of U.S. Households in 2024” https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2025-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2024-banking-and-credit.htm