Credit card debt is a widespread issue in the United States.
Dealing with credit card debt is a common struggle for people of all ages in America. However, the burden of credit card debt is not evenly distributed.
Recent Federal Reserve data reveals that the total amount of credit card debt in the country has surpassed $800 billion, the highest it’s been since 2009. While some of this debt will be paid off, a significant portion will remain. Moreover, certain states are facing challenges in managing their debt.
According to a study conducted by Lending Tree, San Diego, CA residents carry the highest average credit card debt among all American cities. On average, San Diego residents owe $6,629 on their credit cards. Additionally, around 18.5% of them have at least one credit card that is maxed out.
Given the high cost of living and the homelessness crisis in California, it’s not surprising that the state has a disproportionate share of credit card debt in the country. Following San Diego, Los Angeles ranks second with an average credit card balance of $6,472. Three of the top ten cities with the highest average credit card debt are located in California. After the two major California cities, San Antonio and Houston, TX appear as the third and fourth on the list, respectively.
Another noteworthy trend is that the most densely populated cities in the US are also the most indebted. This correlation is understandable as large cities typically have higher incomes and living expenses. Nevertheless, the overall increase in credit card debt across the nation is a concerning trend.