Americans started 2022 with more than $1 trillion in outstanding credit card balances. That’s a truly staggering amount of debt, and it’s still growing. The average U.S. household has over $8,900 in credit card debt, up 4.5% from the previous year.
Some people are in a better position than others when it comes to credit-card debt, though. In order to determine where Americans have accumulated the most and least sustainable credit-card debts, WalletHub drew upon TransUnion credit data to calculate the cost and time required to pay off the median card balances of more than 180 U.S. cities.
Main Findings
Cities with the Least Sustainable Credit Card Debt
Overall Rank* | City | Median Credit Card Debt | Cost to Pay Off | Payoff Time (Income Adjusted) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hialeah, FL | $2,458 | $1,961 | 92 months and 1 day |
2 | Miami, FL | $2,898 | $2,274 | 90 months and 23 days |
3 | Juneau, AK | $4,383 | $3,048 | 81 months and 20 days |
4 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $2,959 | $1,889 | 75 months and 22 days |
5 | Pembroke Pines, FL | $3,409 | $2,162 | 75 months and 9 days |
6 | El Paso, TX | $2,712 | $1,711 | 74 months and 29 days |
7 | Norfolk, VA | $2,979 | $1,869 | 74 months and 17 days |
8 | Knoxville, TN | $2,695 | $1,680 | 74 months and 5 days |
9 | Gulfport, MS | $2,423 | $1,458 | 71 months and 27 days |
10 | San Antonio, TX | $2,809 | $1,670 | 71 months and 3 days |
11 | Tallahassee, FL | $2,844 | $1,680 | 70 months and 21 days |
12 | Reno, NV | $3,136 | $1,830 | 69 months and 28 days |
13 | Dallas, TX | $3,003 | $1,752 | 69 months and 28 days |
14 | Birmingham, AL | $2,643 | $1,535 | 69 months and 19 days |
15 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $3,273 | $1,822 | 67 months and 1 day |
16 | New Orleans, LA | $3,036 | $1,668 | 66 months and 8 days |
17 | Tucson, AZ | $2,523 | $1,386 | 66 months and 7 days |
18 | Cape Coral, FL | $2,904 | $1,591 | 66 months and 3 days |
19 | Virginia Beach, VA | $3,363 | $1,832 | 65 months and 23 days |
20 | North Las Vegas, NV | $2,664 | $1,394 | 63 months and 12 days |
21 | Springfield, MO | $2,287 | $1,194 | 63 months and 9 days |
22 | Chesapeake, VA | $3,427 | $1,766 | 62 months and 17 days |
23 | Nashville, TN | $3,004 | $1,540 | 62 months and 7 days |
24 | Fayetteville, NC | $2,424 | $1,239 | 62 months and 3 days |
25 | Jacksonville, FL | $2,751 | $1,405 | 62 months and 1 day |
26 | Missoula, MT | $2,586 | $1,320 | 62 months |
27 | Brownsville, TX | $2,000 | $1,011 | 61 months and 13 days |
28 | Huntington, WV | $2,242 | $1,130 | 61 months and 10 days |
29 | Las Cruces, NM | $2,405 | $1,212 | 61 months and 9 days |
30 | St. Petersburg, FL | $2,928 | $1,470 | 61 months and 3 days |
31 | Laredo, TX | $2,232 | $1,116 | 60 months and 27 days |
32 | Corpus Christi, TX | $2,675 | $1,334 | 60 months and 22 days |
33 | New York, NY | $3,560 | $1,736 | 59 months and 15 days |
34 | Anchorage, AK | $3,661 | $1,770 | 59 months and 1 day |
35 | Tulsa, OK | $2,585 | $1,248 | 58 months and 29 days |
36 | Las Vegas, NV | $2,660 | $1,281 | 58 months and 25 days |
37 | Austin, TX | $3,372 | $1,621 | 58 months and 23 days |
38 | Nampa, ID | $2,299 | $1,104 | 58 months and 20 days |
39 | Chula Vista, CA | $3,235 | $1,541 | 58 months and 7 days |
40 | Colorado Springs, CO | $2,941 | $1,386 | 57 months and 21 days |
41 | Lubbock, TX | $2,544 | $1,196 | 57 months and 16 days |
42 | Shreveport, LA | $2,426 | $1,139 | 57 months and 15 days |
43 | Fort Worth, TX | $2,855 | $1,340 | 57 months and 14 days |
44 | Tampa, FL | $2,814 | $1,319 | 57 months and 12 days |
45 | Rapid City, SD | $2,500 | $1,171 | 57 months and 11 days |
46 | Henderson, NV | $3,320 | $1,555 | 57 months and 11 days |
47 | Spokane, WA | $2,694 | $1,261 | 57 months and 10 days |
48 | Baton Rouge, LA | $2,569 | $1,196 | 57 months and 1 day |
49 | Amarillo, TX | $2,486 | $1,153 | 56 months and 26 days |
50 | San Bernardino, CA | $2,212 | $1,024 | 56 months and 24 days |
51 | Augusta, GA | $2,208 | $1,020 | 56 months and 19 days |
52 | Houston, TX | $2,634 | $1,216 | 56 months and 19 days |
53 | Richmond, VA | $2,679 | $1,212 | 55 months and 18 days |
54 | Charleston, SC | $3,090 | $1,391 | 55 months and 9 days |
55 | Phoenix, AZ | $2,593 | $1,167 | 55 months and 9 days |
56 | Jackson, MS | $2,059 | $926 | 55 months and 8 days |
57 | Columbia, SC | $2,549 | $1,143 | 55 months and 3 days |
58 | Columbus, GA | $2,432 | $1,088 | 55 months |
59 | Ontario, CA | $2,462 | $1,095 | 54 months and 22 days |
60 | Dover, DE | $2,385 | $1,060 | 54 months and 21 days |
61 | Rutland, VT | $2,493 | $1,104 | 54 months and 15 days |
62 | Orlando, FL | $2,488 | $1,098 | 54 months and 10 days |
63 | Winston-Salem, NC | $2,374 | $1,047 | 54 months and 9 days |
64 | Memphis, TN | $2,258 | $994 | 54 months and 6 days |
65 | Peoria, AZ | $3,041 | $1,334 | 54 months |
66 | Glendale, AZ | $2,472 | $1,079 | 53 months and 25 days |
67 | Riverside, CA | $2,620 | $1,143 | 53 months and 23 days |
68 | Santa Ana, CA | $2,095 | $913 | 53 months and 22 days |
69 | Little Rock, AR | $2,656 | $1,158 | 53 months and 22 days |
70 | Oceanside, CA | $2,908 | $1,261 | 53 months and 13 days |
71 | St. Louis, MO | $2,641 | $1,141 | 53 months and 8 days |
72 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,710 | $1,167 | 53 months and 3 days |
73 | Atlanta, GA | $3,511 | $1,500 | 52 months and 23 days |
74 | Fontana, CA | $2,584 | $1,102 | 52 months and 20 days |
75 | Long Beach, CA | $2,840 | $1,210 | 52 months and 18 days |
76 | Charlotte, NC | $2,876 | $1,225 | 52 months and 17 days |
77 | Greensboro, NC | $2,351 | $995 | 52 months and 8 days |
78 | Chattanooga, TN | $2,386 | $1,009 | 52 months and 7 days |
79 | Scottsdale, AZ | $4,031 | $1,700 | 52 months and 3 days |
80 | Denver, CO | $3,143 | $1,319 | 51 months and 27 days |
81 | Santa Clarita, CA | $3,830 | $1,602 | 51 months and 22 days |
82 | Mesa, AZ | $2,480 | $1,037 | 51 months and 22 days |
83 | Arlington, TX | $2,513 | $1,049 | 51 months and 19 days |
84 | Oxnard, CA | $2,251 | $935 | 51 months and 11 days |
85 | Montgomery, AL | $2,284 | $947 | 51 months and 9 days |
86 | Aurora, CO | $2,568 | $1,061 | 51 months and 3 days |
87 | Albuquerque, NM | $2,495 | $1,029 | 51 months and 2 days |
88 | Fresno, CA | $2,386 | $985 | 51 months and 2 days |
89 | Grand Prairie, TX | $2,530 | $1,044 | 51 months and 2 days |
90 | Fort Smith, AR | $2,125 | $871 | 50 months and 24 days |
91 | Gilbert, AZ | $3,524 | $1,441 | 50 months and 20 days |
92 | Sioux Falls, SD | $2,553 | $1,044 | 50 months and 20 days |
93 | Stockton, CA | $2,373 | $970 | 50 months and 20 days |
94 | Kansas City, MO | $2,623 | $1,072 | 50 months and 19 days |
95 | Moreno Valley, CA | $2,335 | $954 | 50 months and 18 days |
96 | Detroit, MI | $2,007 | $817 | 50 months and 13 days |
97 | Garland, TX | $2,218 | $900 | 50 months and 9 days |
98 | Salt Lake City, UT | $2,668 | $1,073 | 49 months and 27 days |
99 | Cheyenne, WY | $2,831 | $1,129 | 49 months and 15 days |
100 | Wilmington, DE | $2,580 | $1,027 | 49 months and 13 days |
101 | Wichita, KS | $2,360 | $935 | 49 months and 5 days |
102 | Cincinnati, OH | $2,562 | $1,008 | 48 months and 28 days |
103 | Fargo, ND | $2,455 | $965 | 48 months and 26 days |
104 | Raleigh, NC | $2,840 | $1,116 | 48 months and 26 days |
105 | Boise, ID | $2,653 | $1,035 | 48 months and 16 days |
106 | Fort Wayne, IN | $2,261 | $878 | 48 months and 9 days |
107 | Mobile, AL | $2,224 | $863 | 48 months and 7 days |
108 | Vancouver, WA | $2,673 | $1,035 | 48 months and 5 days |
109 | Salem, OR | $2,426 | $937 | 48 months and 1 day |
110 | Cleveland, OH | $2,067 | $791 | 47 months and 19 days |
111 | Akron, OH | $2,066 | $789 | 47 months and 18 days |
112 | Oklahoma City, OK | $2,303 | $878 | 47 months and 14 days |
113 | Casper, WY | $2,601 | $985 | 47 months and 6 days |
114 | Buffalo, NY | $2,258 | $855 | 47 months and 5 days |
115 | Newport News, VA | $2,326 | $881 | 47 months and 5 days |
116 | Santa Rosa, CA | $2,838 | $1,074 | 47 months and 4 days |
117 | Rochester, NY | $2,184 | $823 | 46 months and 29 days |
118 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $2,520 | $947 | 46 months and 26 days |
119 | Tacoma, WA | $2,723 | $1,022 | 46 months and 25 days |
120 | Billings, MT | $2,474 | $923 | 46 months and 16 days |
121 | Irving, TX | $2,371 | $884 | 46 months and 15 days |
122 | Aurora, IL | $2,469 | $919 | 46 months and 12 days |
123 | Bismarck, ND | $2,760 | $1,020 | 46 months and 3 days |
124 | Grand Rapids, MI | $2,178 | $799 | 45 months and 24 days |
125 | Glendale, CA | $3,072 | $1,120 | 45 months and 17 days |
126 | Pearl City, HI | $2,801 | $1,020 | 45 months and 15 days |
127 | Bakersfield, CA | $2,530 | $919 | 45 months and 12 days |
128 | Anaheim, CA | $2,329 | $845 | 45 months and 10 days |
129 | Portland, OR | $2,920 | $1,056 | 45 months and 5 days |
130 | Providence, RI | $2,185 | $787 | 45 months and 1 day |
131 | Chandler, AZ | $3,072 | $1,102 | 44 months and 27 days |
132 | Indianapolis, IN | $2,237 | $798 | 44 months and 19 days |
133 | Newark, NJ | $1,940 | $692 | 44 months and 18 days |
134 | Lincoln, NE | $2,323 | $822 | 44 months and 9 days |
135 | Durham, NC | $2,584 | $914 | 44 months and 8 days |
136 | Honolulu, HI | $2,577 | $908 | 44 months and 4 days |
137 | Tempe, AZ | $2,378 | $836 | 44 months and 1 day |
138 | St. Paul, MN | $2,430 | $847 | 43 months and 21 days |
139 | Omaha, NE | $2,493 | $868 | 43 months and 20 days |
140 | Columbus, OH | $2,298 | $800 | 43 months and 19 days |
141 | Bridgeport, CT | $2,135 | $743 | 43 months and 18 days |
142 | Plano, TX | $3,299 | $1,148 | 43 months and 18 days |
143 | Manchester, NH | $2,322 | $804 | 43 months and 13 days |
144 | Louisville, KY | $2,289 | $793 | 43 months and 12 days |
145 | Toledo, OH | $2,029 | $702 | 43 months and 10 days |
146 | Modesto, CA | $2,505 | $862 | 43 months and 5 days |
147 | San Diego, CA | $2,974 | $1,017 | 42 months and 28 days |
148 | Charleston, WV | $2,364 | $807 | 42 months and 26 days |
149 | Pittsburgh, PA | $2,483 | $843 | 42 months and 19 days |
150 | West Valley City, UT | $2,002 | $679 | 42 months and 17 days |
151 | Milwaukee, WI | $2,000 | $677 | 42 months and 15 days |
152 | Yonkers, NY | $2,807 | $942 | 42 months and 4 days |
153 | Des Moines, IA | $2,128 | $705 | 41 months and 20 days |
154 | Chicago, IL | $2,649 | $873 | 41 months and 13 days |
155 | Overland Park, KS | $3,174 | $1,044 | 41 months and 11 days |
156 | Portland, ME | $2,448 | $800 | 41 months and 4 days |
157 | Lewiston, ME | $1,950 | $637 | 41 months and 2 days |
158 | Sacramento, CA | $2,453 | $789 | 40 months and 16 days |
159 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | $2,875 | $922 | 40 months and 12 days |
160 | Nashua, NH | $2,599 | $833 | 40 months and 11 days |
161 | Baltimore, MD | $2,431 | $773 | 40 months and 1 day |
162 | Philadelphia, PA | $2,231 | $701 | 39 months and 19 days |
163 | Warwick, RI | $2,575 | $788 | 38 months and 20 days |
164 | Huntsville, AL | $2,334 | $713 | 38 months and 17 days |
165 | Oakland, CA | $2,848 | $849 | 37 months and 22 days |
166 | Minneapolis, MN | $2,520 | $748 | 37 months and 17 days |
167 | Worcester, MA | $2,211 | $649 | 37 months and 4 days |
168 | Garden Grove, CA | $2,010 | $590 | 37 months and 4 days |
169 | Huntington Beach, CA | $3,172 | $924 | 36 months and 27 days |
170 | Boston, MA | $2,801 | $805 | 36 months and 13 days |
171 | Burlington, VT | $2,219 | $621 | 35 months and 15 days |
172 | Washington, DC | $3,362 | $933 | 35 months and 6 days |
173 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $2,026 | $556 | 34 months and 27 days |
174 | New Haven, CT | $1,906 | $491 | 32 months and 26 days |
175 | Seattle, WA | $3,162 | $808 | 32 months and 16 days |
176 | Columbia, MD | $3,071 | $772 | 32 months and 1 day |
177 | Madison, WI | $1,998 | $471 | 30 months and 3 days |
178 | Jersey City, NJ | $2,357 | $520 | 28 months and 6 days |
179 | San Jose, CA | $2,518 | $542 | 27 months and 17 days |
180 | Irvine, CA | $2,983 | $621 | 26 months and 21 days |
181 | San Francisco, CA | $2,809 | $519 | 23 months and 23 days |
182 | Fremont, CA | $2,420 | $349 | 18 months and 18 days |
Note: *No. 1 = Least Sustainable Credit Card Debt
Ask the Experts
With credit-card debt levels remaining high in 2022, we asked a panel of credit experts to shed light on the unsustainable credit behavior that leads to such negative results and their effects on the economy. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:
- What daily behaviors lead people to amass credit-card debt?
- What is the biggest mistake people make when managing credit-card debt?
- How does the growth of credit-card debt affect the economy?
- How will actions taken by the Federal Reserve affect credit card debt in 2023?
- What are the most effective ways to avoid increasing one’s debt load in the current context of high inflation?
- What role, if any, should the government play in incentivizing and encouraging people to maintain low debt-to-income ratios (e.g., through tax incentives, etc.)?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D., CFA – Professor of Finance & Economics – Rutgers Business School and Author of Buffett's Tips: A Guide to Financial Literacy and Life
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Founding and Managing Director of the Student Money Management Center – University of North Texas
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Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Finance, School of Business – Howard University
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Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus – University of Missouri and Author of The Foolish Corner and What Was I Thinking? A Decision Diary
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Professor Emeritus, Director of the Center for Consumer Law – University of Houston Law Center
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Director, Center for Financial Literacy – Champlain College
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Methodology
In order to determine the cities with the least and most sustainable credit card debts, we first looked at the median credit-card balances of residents in each of 182 U.S. cities as of October 2022, based on TransUnion data. Our analysis includes credit cards that carried a balance and excludes store cards. For our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.
Using WalletHub’s credit card payoff calculator and the median credit-card balance and income of residents in each city, we determined the required number of months to pay off that balance and the resulting finance charges. In order to do so, we made the following two assumptions:
- Individuals earning the national median income would be able to pay 3 percent of the national median credit card debt. We then took the ratio between that resulting monthly payment and the national median income and applied it to each city’s specific income.
Note: The median income for each city is based on the 2020 earnings of individuals aged 16 and older who worked full-time year-round, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The figure excludes income from sources other than work.
- Consumers would pay an average 18.43 percent interest rate, based on the APR paid by existing cardholders, according to the average interest rate assessed on accounts with finance charges. Using that percentage, we computed the cost of paying off the city’s median credit-card balance.
Finally, we ranked the cities based on the calculator’s outputs. A rank of 1 corresponds with the city with the least sustainable credit-card debt — that is, the city with the longest payoff timeline.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Reserve and TransUnion.