2023’s Cities with the Least Sustainable Credit Card Debt

Adam McCann, Financial WriterDec 8, 2022

cities with the highest lowest credit card debts

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Dec 8, 2022

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.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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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

John M. Longo
Ph.D., CFA – Professor of Finance & Economics – Rutgers Business School and Author of Buffett's Tips: A Guide to Financial Literacy and Life
Read More

Paul F. Goebel
Founding and Managing Director of the Student Money Management Center – University of North Texas
Read More

Vaneesha Dutra
Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Finance, School of Business – Howard University
Read More

John S. Howe
Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus – University of Missouri and Author of The Foolish Corner and What Was I Thinking? A Decision Diary
Read More

Richard M. Alderman
Professor Emeritus, Director of the Center for Consumer Law – University of Houston Law Center
Read More

John Pelletier
Director, Center for Financial Literacy – Champlain College
Read More

More Experts

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.

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