The Average Credit Score In Every State Mapped Out

People across the country are struggling with debt of all kinds and keeping their credit score up, but some people in certain geographical areas are struggling more than others according to new data from Experian in the company’s annual State of Credit report which reveals the average credit score in every state. Where are people doing the worst, you ask? The lowest average credit score of 652 belongs to Mississippi. Other states that rank at the bottom including Louisiana, Nevada, Georgia, and Texas, with average scores of 659.
On the other end of the spectrum is Minnesota, which is sitting pretty with an average credit score of 713. South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts are also in the top five states. “The southern tier of the U.S. has historically had lower scores than the Midwest and the northern part of the country,” Rod Griffin, Experian’s director of consumer education and awareness, told CNBC while breaking down the data. “That, to me, is a telling issue. People may be using their credit cards as a supplement to their income in the South, or are just using them more and carrying a higher balance.”

How To Boost Your Credit Score

The two keys to a good credit score are paying your bills on time and keeping your balances as low as possible. Yeah, easier said than done, we know. Check out our handy guide for how to increase your credit score step-by-step. Feature Image: Twenty20