Folks in some states are not doing so hot when it comes to managing their credit.

Sometimes, being an adult isn't fun. Just recently, I had to have a new HVAC system installed in my house, and that certainly wasn't cheap. It was definitely one of my least favorite adult purchases. Of course, part of being an adult is managing finances, and along with that comes being diligent with your credit line, such as managing debt responsibly or monitoring your credit report for inaccuracies. Those are things I always try to keep top of mind, but for some, it's a bit more of a struggle.

Wallethub recently conducted research into the states where people are the most diligent with credit in 2024. The website compared all 50 states across six key metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of diligence. Wallethub then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate overall scores. Here are the six metrics taken into consideration:

  • Percentage of Customers Who Have Collections Tradelines
  • Percentage of Frozen Credit Reports
  • Percentage of Customers Who Have Missed Payments
  • Percentage of Customers Who Have Active Bankruptcies
  • Percentage of Customers Who Have Foreclosures
  • Percentage of Customers Who Have Filled a Dispute in the Last Two Quarters
WKDQ-FM logo
Get our free mobile app

Coming in at #1 on the list was Vermont, with folks in that state checking in as the most diligent with credit at a score of 83.53/100. Wallethub noted that Vermont had the highest share of people who filed a credit dispute in the past six months. This was a key indicator that people in Vermont have been actively looking at their credit reports for errors and getting them removed when one pops up. Additionally, the state had the third-lowest number of people with missed payments, the fifth-lowest share of people with collection accounts, and the seventh-lowest number of people with foreclosures during the first quarter of 2024.

Source: WalletHub

As you can see from Wallethub's interactive map above, Louisiana came in as the least credit-diligent state in 2024, claiming the #50 spot with a score of just 26.01/100. However, Kentucky was not too far back, checking in at #46 with a score of 39.66/100. Folks in the Bluegrass State appear to have some of the highest collection tradelines and bankruptcies. That said, 2024 isn't over, so it's possible people in Kentucky could move up the list as the year progresses. If you haven't checked your credit, now may be the time to do so.

10 States With The Fewest Credit Cards

In order to determine the states with the most credit cards, WalletHub compared the 50 states across two key dimensions: 1) Number of Cards and 2) Increase in Number of Credit Cards.
We evaluated those dimensions using 4 relevant metrics listed below with their corresponding weights, each metric being graded on a 100-point scale.

Gallery Credit: Kyle Matthews

Which State Has the Highest Median Student Loan Monthly Payment?

Using data from Business Insider and WalletHub, we ranked states by median monthly student loan payment to determine which of the 50 have the highest and which university in each state has the highest enrollment.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Causes of Credit Card Debt

Credit Card debt in America sits at a record $986 billion. And 35% of American adults carry some kind of credit card balance. Developing good financial habits, such as budgeting, saving, and understanding credit card terms, can help prevent or manage credit card debt effectively. It's important to note that each individual's situation is unique, and a combination of these factors or other personal circumstances can contribute to credit card debt. Here are some of those factors

Gallery Credit: Dr. T

More From WKDQ-FM