The U.S. Cities and States With the Highest Credit Card Delinquency Rates [Data]

Credit card debt in America has hit record levels, and the share of Americans falling behind is rising with it. With credit card interest rates near historic highs, one missed payment can trigger penalties, damage credit scores, and create a compounding debt load that's hard to escape. Reaching that point isn't solely a matter of individual financial behavior, as geography, local income levels, economic conditions, and access to lower-cost credit all play meaningful roles.

To find where Americans are struggling with their credit the most and least, the FinanceBuzz research team analyzed credit bureau data to determine the share of residents with a delinquent credit card account — at least 30 days past due — across the 100 largest U.S. cities and all 50 states.

Key findings

• Memphis, Tennessee, has the highest credit card delinquency rate of any major U.S. city at 9.0%.
• Just 2.4% of people in Madison, Wisconsin, and San Francisco, California, have delinquent credit accounts, the lowest rate across U.S. cities.
• Mississippi leads all states with a credit delinquency rate of 8.8%, while Minnesota and Vermont are lowest at 3.3%.
• Seven of the 10 cities and each of the top five cities with the highest credit card delinquency rates are in the South.

Which U.S. cities have the highest credit card delinquency rates?

Among the 100 largest U.S. cities, those with the highest share of residents behind on credit card payments are concentrated heavily in the South and Sun Belt, while many of the lowest delinquency rates can be found in the Midwest and on the West Coast.

When it comes to cities where credit card debt delinquency is most common, a strong geographic pattern emerges. Of the 10 major cities with the highest delinquency rates, seven are located in the American South, with Memphis, Tennessee, topping the list at 9.0%.

Cities with the highest credit card debt delinquency rates

1. Memphis, Tennessee

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 9.0%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $535

2. New Orleans, Louisiana

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 8.5%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $677

3. Detroit, Michigan

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 8.2%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $603

4. Indianapolis, Indiana

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 8.2%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $499

5. Jacksonville, Florida

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 8.2%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $640

6. Corpus Christi, Texas

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 7.9%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $674

7. Atlanta, Georgia

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 7.7%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $723

8. Orlando, Florida

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 7.7%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $776

9. Newark, New Jersey

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 7.6%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $650

10. El Paso, Texas

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 7.6%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $800

Beyond high delinquency rates in the South, another pattern emerged in the data: residents in these high-delinquency cities tend to carry smaller delinquent balances.

Across the entire country, $713 is the median delinquent debt amount, but seven of the 10 cities with the highest percentage of residents in delinquency have median debt amounts below that amount. This suggests that in these communities, residents are falling behind even on relatively modest balances, which is often a sign of limited income or lower credit limits rather than a pattern of high-risk borrowing.

Which U.S. cities have the lowest credit card delinquency rates?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the cities with the lowest delinquency rates share a common thread: strong local economies, high median household incomes, and large concentrations of knowledge-sector workers.

Cities with the lowest credit card debt delinquency rates

1. San Francisco, California

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 2.4%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $935

2. Madison, Wisconsin

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 2.4%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $918

3. San Jose, California

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 2.7%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $950

4. Arlington, Virginia

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 2.8%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $941

5. Seattle, Washington

• Credit card debt delinquency rate: 2.9%
• Median amount of delinquent debt: $766

Notably, while fewer residents fall behind in these cities, those who do tend to carry much larger balances: each of the top five cities with the lowest delinquency rates has a median debt amount that exceeds the national average, including four where debt is over $200 higher than the overall median.

Credit card delinquency rates by state: Highest and lowest

The state-level picture reinforces the geographic divide seen in the city data. Southern and Sun Belt states dominate the high end, while the Upper Midwest, Mountain West, and New England account for most of the lowest-ranked states.

Mississippi leads all states, with 8.8% of residents having delinquent credit card debt, followed by Georgia (7.7%), Louisiana (7.6%), Arkansas (7.2%), and Alabama (7.0%). Nevada (6.9%) breaks the otherwise solidly Southern top tier, reflecting the economic volatility of a state heavily dependent on tourism and hospitality employment. West Virginia (6.8%), Texas, and both Carolinas (all three at 6.7%) complete the top 10.

At the low end, Minnesota and Vermont are tied for the lowest delinquency rate in the country at 3.3%, followed by Wisconsin (3.5%), Hawaii (3.6%), and Montana (3.7%). Idaho and Washington (both 3.8%), South Dakota and Utah (both 3.9%), and Maine (4.0%) round out the list of the 10 states with the lowest credit delinquency rates.

Why southern cities and states lead in delinquency

Several interconnected economic and structural factors explain why delinquency rates are consistently higher across the South:

• Lower median household incomes leave residents with less financial cushion when unexpected expenses arise, making it harder to maintain regular credit card payments.
• Higher poverty rates and greater reliance on low-wage employment mean that a missed paycheck or medical bill can quickly tip a household budget into crisis, and credit card minimums are often the first obligation to slip.
• Limited access to lower-cost financial products, including credit unions, community development financial institutions, and options for refinancing high-interest credit card debt, leaves some residents stuck in high-interest products with little room for error. For residents in these markets, banks with no credit check can provide an accessible entry point to fee-free banking without requiring a strong credit history.
• Nevada's outlier status reflects a tourism-dependent economy where income is closely tied to visitor traffic, making residents more exposed to seasonal income swings that can disrupt payment schedules.

The inverse relationship between delinquency rates and median delinquent debt amounts may also signal structural differences in credit access. In lower-income markets, consumers often receive lower credit limits, meaning their balances are smaller in dollar terms even when they represent a proportionally heavy debt burden relative to their incomes.

Full data: All states

The table below shows credit card delinquency rates and median delinquent debt amounts for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Full data: 100 largest U.S. cities

The table below shows credit card delinquency rates and median delinquent debt amounts for each of the 100 most populous U.S. cities.

What this means for your wallet

• Transfer high-interest debt to a 0% APR card: Moving existing balances to one of the best balance transfer cards with a 0% intro period can stop interest from compounding while you pay down the principal, potentially saving hundreds in fees.
• Build a cushion with a high-yield savings account: Even setting aside one to two months of minimum payments can prevent a single missed paycheck from triggering a delinquency. High-yield savings accounts now pay meaningful interest while keeping funds accessible within days.
• Track your spending with a budgeting app: Knowing where your money goes makes it easier to prioritize credit card minimums before optional expenses. Many budgeting apps are free and take just minutes to set up.
• Explore accessible banking options: If you're in an area with limited access to traditional financial products, one of the easiest bank accounts to open online can make it simpler to set up automatic minimum payments and avoid missed due dates.

Methodology

FinanceBuzz analyzed credit bureau data to determine the share of adults with at least one delinquent credit card account. A delinquent account is defined as an account 30 or more days past due. Data was collected across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the 100 most populous U.S. cities based on current U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. Median delinquent credit card debt amounts reflect the median balance on delinquent accounts among those with at least one delinquency. Data was accessed via the Urban Institute's Debt in America map. Last updated in November 2025.

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