Nearly 30% of Americans in 100 Largest Metros Are Behind on Debt Payments
Debt can be stressful — particularly if you fall behind on payments.
After a sustained period of price hikes, it may not be easy to keep up with debt payments. In fact, according to the latest LendingTree study, 29.6% of Americans in the U.S.’s 100 largest metros were behind on at least one debt payment between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2023.
Here’s what else we found.
Key findings
- 29.6% of Americans in the 100 largest metros were behind on their debt payments between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2023. These debts include credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, student loans and others.
- Southern residents are particularly likely to be behind on a payment. Of the metros analyzed, two in Texas rank highest for being at least 30 days behind on at least one account: McAllen (51.7%) and El Paso (46.3%). Baton Rouge, La., rounds out the top three, at 45.0%. Meanwhile, just 16.8% of residents in Provo, Utah, are behind on a payment, with Honolulu (17.2%) and Minneapolis (17.7%) next.
- 27.3% of consumers across the 100 metros have debt that’s seriously delinquent (overdue by 90 days or more), while 26.2% have debt in collections. McAllen again ranks highest, with almost half (49.1%) of McAllen residents having at least one account in collections. The Texas metro is followed by Baton Rouge (41.1%) and El Paso (41.0%). Meanwhile, just 14.4% of Provo residents have an account in collections, ahead of Minneapolis (14.8%) and San Francisco (14.9%).
- By debt type, Greensboro, N.C., has the highest percentage of consumers behind on credit card payments (26.8%). Greensboro also tied with Columbia, S.C., for the highest percentage of consumers behind on auto loan payments (11.1% for both). Meanwhile, McAllen has the highest rate of consumers late on personal loan payments (21.0%) and other types of debt (45.3%). Finally, Jackson, Miss., ranks highest for those behind on mortgage payments (2.4%) and student loan payments (1.9%).
- Over one-third of millennials (36.7%) and Gen Zers (36.2%) are late on at least one account payment. Across all generations, millennials are the most likely to be late on paying their credit card accounts (19.6%), car payments (7.8%) and other debts (27.9%). Meanwhile, millennials are 84.4% more likely to have debt in collections than baby boomers: 1 in 3 millennials (33.0%) has a debt in collections, versus 17.9% of baby boomers.
Nearly 30% of Americans in the 100 largest metros are behind on debt payments — here’s where that’s most likely
Between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2023, 29.6% of Americans in the 100 largest metros were at least 30 days behind on at least one debt payment. That includes credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, student loans and other.
In which metros are consumers most likely to be behind on a payment? Look no further than the South. McAllen, Texas, ranks highest, with 51.7% behind on at least one account — the only metro above 50.0%. It’s followed by El Paso, Texas (46.3%), and Baton Rouge, La. (45.0%).
Income may play a role here: The median household income in all three locales is below the U.S. median of $75,149:
- McAllen: $56,326
- El Paso: $55,710
- Baton Rouge: $50,155
3 metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on debt payments
| Rank | Metro | Late on at least 1 account | Late on 3 or more accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | 51.7% | 12.8% |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | 46.3% | 11.7% |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | 45.0% | 11.6% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros. Note: When analyzing the percentage of consumers late on three or more accounts, analysts only included those late on different types of accounts.
Meanwhile, Provo, Utah, ranks lowest — just 16.8% of residents here are behind on a payment. Honolulu follows at 17.2%, while Minneapolis (17.7%) rounds out the bottom three. Unlike the top three, two of the three lowest-ranking metros have median incomes above the $75,149 U.S. median:
- Honolulu: $99,816
- Minneapolis: $76,332
- Provo: $57,943
When it comes to multiple late debt payments, McAllen again ranks highest, with 12.8% behind on three or more debts in different categories. In contrast, only 2.0% of Boston residents are late paying three or more debts.
Full rankings
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on debt payments
| Rank | Metro | Late on at least 1 account | Late on 3 or more accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | 51.7% | 12.8% |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | 46.3% | 11.7% |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | 45.0% | 11.6% |
| 4 | Greensboro, NC | 44.8% | 9.2% |
| 5 | Columbia, SC | 44.6% | 11.5% |
| 6 | Jackson, MS | 44.0% | 12.7% |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | 43.8% | 11.3% |
| 8 | Augusta, GA | 43.3% | 7.5% |
| 9 | Greenville, SC | 42.6% | 8.5% |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | 42.5% | 8.5% |
| 11 | Winston-Salem, NC | 41.4% | 8.4% |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | 41.1% | 8.8% |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | 39.8% | 8.9% |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | 39.6% | 8.1% |
| 15 | Lakeland, FL | 38.9% | 8.1% |
| 16 | Houston, TX | 38.1% | 9.3% |
| 17 | Dallas, TX | 37.9% | 8.8% |
| 18 | Charleston, SC | 36.8% | 9.8% |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | 36.1% | 7.9% |
| 20 | Jacksonville, FL | 36.0% | 7.1% |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | 35.9% | 7.9% |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | 35.9% | 7.8% |
| 23 | Atlanta, GA | 35.8% | 7.4% |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | 35.8% | 7.2% |
| 25 | Dayton, OH | 35.1% | 7.2% |
| 26 | Raleigh, NC | 34.8% | 7.6% |
| 27 | Louisville, KY | 34.2% | 4.8% |
| 28 | Wichita, KS | 34.1% | 5.1% |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | 33.7% | 5.9% |
| 30 | Austin, TX | 33.2% | 7.4% |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | 32.3% | 5.3% |
| 32 | Orlando, FL | 32.2% | 5.7% |
| 32 | Bakersfield, CA | 32.2% | 5.9% |
| 34 | Knoxville, TN | 32.0% | 5.1% |
| 34 | Durham, NC | 32.0% | 4.9% |
| 36 | Albuquerque, NM | 31.6% | 7.8% |
| 37 | Cleveland, OH | 31.5% | 6.8% |
| 38 | Tampa, FL | 31.3% | 5.3% |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | 30.6% | 6.0% |
| 40 | St. Louis, MO | 30.0% | 5.7% |
| 41 | Scranton, PA | 29.9% | 4.2% |
| 42 | Akron, OH | 29.7% | 6.3% |
| 43 | Riverside, CA | 29.6% | 5.4% |
| 44 | Deltona, FL | 29.4% | 3.4% |
| 45 | Kansas City, MO | 29.3% | 5.0% |
| 45 | Richmond, VA | 29.3% | 5.5% |
| 47 | Indianapolis, IN | 29.1% | 5.7% |
| 48 | Nashville, TN | 28.6% | 4.8% |
| 48 | Cape Coral, FL | 28.6% | 4.7% |
| 50 | Miami, FL | 28.5% | 4.7% |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | 28.5% | 4.7% |
| 50 | Columbus, OH | 28.5% | 5.7% |
| 53 | New Haven, CT | 27.8% | 4.6% |
| 54 | Phoenix, AZ | 27.6% | 4.7% |
| 54 | Charlotte, NC | 27.6% | 5.2% |
| 56 | Philadelphia, PA | 27.4% | 4.3% |
| 57 | Baltimore, MD | 27.1% | 3.6% |
| 58 | Palm Bay, FL | 26.9% | 3.9% |
| 59 | Allentown, PA | 26.8% | 3.7% |
| 60 | Milwaukee, WI | 26.7% | 5.4% |
| 61 | Tucson, AZ | 26.6% | 4.8% |
| 61 | Stockton, CA | 26.6% | 4.8% |
| 61 | Harrisburg, PA | 26.6% | 4.3% |
| 64 | Chicago, IL | 26.1% | 4.1% |
| 65 | Grand Rapids, MI | 26.0% | 3.8% |
| 66 | North Port, FL | 25.9% | 4.3% |
| 67 | Springfield, MA | 25.7% | 3.1% |
| 68 | Salt Lake City, UT | 25.4% | 4.9% |
| 69 | Colorado Springs, CO | 25.0% | 3.5% |
| 69 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 25.0% | 3.6% |
| 71 | Providence, RI | 24.3% | 3.3% |
| 72 | Ogden, UT | 24.2% | 4.7% |
| 72 | Syracuse, NY | 24.2% | 4.0% |
| 74 | Albany, NY | 24.1% | 3.3% |
| 75 | Bridgeport, CT | 23.8% | 3.4% |
| 76 | New York, NY | 23.7% | 2.7% |
| 76 | Los Angeles, CA | 23.7% | 3.5% |
| 78 | Sacramento, CA | 23.6% | 3.4% |
| 79 | Buffalo, NY | 23.5% | 3.0% |
| 80 | Rochester, NY | 23.4% | 3.6% |
| 81 | Washington, DC | 22.7% | 3.3% |
| 81 | Hartford, CT | 22.7% | 2.5% |
| 83 | Denver, CO | 22.5% | 3.4% |
| 84 | Spokane, WA | 22.4% | 4.2% |
| 85 | San Diego, CA | 22.2% | 3.2% |
| 86 | Omaha, NE | 21.7% | 4.0% |
| 87 | Pittsburgh, PA | 21.6% | 3.3% |
| 88 | Boise, ID | 21.1% | 4.6% |
| 89 | Worcester, MA | 20.8% | 3.5% |
| 90 | Seattle, WA | 20.5% | 3.3% |
| 91 | Oxnard, CA | 20.2% | 2.4% |
| 92 | Portland, OR | 20.0% | 2.9% |
| 93 | Boston, MA | 18.9% | 2.0% |
| 94 | Des Moines, IA | 18.4% | 4.6% |
| 95 | San Jose, CA | 18.1% | 3.7% |
| 96 | San Francisco, CA | 17.9% | 2.9% |
| 96 | Madison, WI | 17.9% | 5.7% |
| 98 | Minneapolis, MN | 17.7% | 3.5% |
| 99 | Honolulu, HI | 17.2% | 2.2% |
| 100 | Provo, UT | 16.8% | 3.5% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros. Notes: When analyzing the percentage of consumers late on three or more accounts, analysts only included those late on different types of accounts. The rankings are based on those late on at least one account.
27.3% have seriously delinquent debt, while 26.2% have debt in collections
When it comes to serious delinquency (debt overdue by 90 days or more), that percentage is similar: Across the 100 largest metros, 27.3% have seriously delinquent debt, while 26.2% have debt in collections.
Schulz believes inflation has played a role in these percentages.
“The average American’s budget doesn’t have a whole lot of wiggle room, so when prices go up to the degree they have in recent years, it’s a big deal,” he says. “Also, higher interest rates have a real impact on people’s ability to pay. The massive, constant rise in rates over the past two years has shrunk people’s financial margin for error even further.”
The top three metros rank high across both looks. In McAllen, 49.1% of residents have at least one account in collections, while 49.8% have seriously delinquent debt (both No. 1). In Baton Rouge, 41.1% of residents have at least one account in collections (No. 2) and 42.0% have seriously delinquent debt (No. 4). And in El Paso, 41.0% have an account in collections (No. 3) and 43.4% have seriously delinquent debt (No. 2).
3 metros with the highest percentage of Americans with an account in collections
| Rank | Metro | Seriously delinquent (at least 90 days) | Account in collections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | 49.8% | 49.1% |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | 42.0% | 41.1% |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | 43.4% | 41.0% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros. Note: The rankings are based on those with accounts in collections.
Meanwhile, Provo again appears at the bottom, with just 14.4% of residents having an account in collections and 15.1% having seriously delinquent debt. Meanwhile, 14.8% of Minneapolis residents and 14.9% of San Francisco residents have an account in collections. Those two metros’ seriously delinquent rates — 15.8% and 15.7%, respectively — are also in the bottom four.
Full rankings
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans with an account in collections
| Rank | Metro | Seriously delinquent (late at least 90 days) | Account in collections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | 49.8% | 49.1% |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | 42.0% | 41.1% |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | 43.4% | 41.0% |
| 4 | Columbia, SC | 42.4% | 40.5% |
| 5 | Greenville, SC | 41.1% | 40.2% |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | 41.4% | 40.1% |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | 41.6% | 39.9% |
| 8 | Augusta, GA | 40.0% | 38.3% |
| 9 | Jackson, MS | 40.2% | 37.8% |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | 39.6% | 37.7% |
| 11 | Winston-Salem, NC | 38.6% | 37.6% |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | 37.9% | 36.6% |
| 13 | Birmingham, AL | 37.1% | 35.3% |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | 36.3% | 35.2% |
| 15 | Houston, TX | 36.1% | 34.9% |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | 35.7% | 34.7% |
| 17 | Lakeland, FL | 35.3% | 34.4% |
| 18 | Charleston, SC | 34.3% | 33.7% |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | 34.0% | 33.3% |
| 20 | Virginia Beach, VA | 33.9% | 33.2% |
| 21 | Tulsa, OK | 33.1% | 32.3% |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | 33.0% | 32.0% |
| 23 | Atlanta, GA | 33.2% | 31.8% |
| 24 | Oklahoma City, OK | 32.9% | 31.7% |
| 25 | Raleigh, NC | 32.4% | 31.5% |
| 26 | Dayton, OH | 32.2% | 31.4% |
| 27 | Louisville, KY | 31.1% | 30.6% |
| 28 | Wichita, KS | 30.9% | 30.0% |
| 29 | Austin, TX | 31.1% | 29.9% |
| 30 | Fresno, CA | 30.6% | 29.8% |
| 31 | Bakersfield, CA | 30.3% | 29.3% |
| 32 | Orlando, FL | 30.3% | 29.1% |
| 33 | Toledo, OH | 29.5% | 28.9% |
| 34 | Knoxville, TN | 29.1% | 28.7% |
| 35 | Durham, NC | 29.6% | 28.6% |
| 36 | Tampa, FL | 29.2% | 28.5% |
| 37 | Cleveland, OH | 29.2% | 28.2% |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | 29.3% | 28.1% |
| 39 | St. Louis, MO | 27.8% | 26.7% |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH | 28.1% | 26.7% |
| 41 | Kansas City, MO | 27.1% | 26.4% |
| 42 | Akron, OH | 27.9% | 26.3% |
| 43 | Deltona, FL | 27.3% | 26.2% |
| 44 | Scranton, PA | 28.0% | 26.1% |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | 26.6% | 25.9% |
| 45 | Richmond, VA | 27.2% | 25.9% |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | 26.9% | 25.8% |
| 48 | Indianapolis, IN | 26.5% | 25.3% |
| 49 | Miami, FL | 25.8% | 25.1% |
| 50 | Cape Coral, FL | 26.6% | 24.9% |
| 51 | Detroit, MI | 25.8% | 24.8% |
| 51 | Charlotte, NC | 25.6% | 24.8% |
| 53 | Phoenix, AZ | 25.2% | 24.4% |
| 54 | Stockton, CA | 25.1% | 24.2% |
| 55 | Nashville, TN | 25.3% | 24.1% |
| 56 | Philadelphia, PA | 24.9% | 23.9% |
| 56 | Allentown, PA | 24.9% | 23.9% |
| 56 | North Port, FL | 24.4% | 23.9% |
| 59 | Palm Bay, FL | 25.0% | 23.6% |
| 60 | New Haven, CT | 24.9% | 23.4% |
| 61 | Milwaukee, WI | 23.9% | 23.3% |
| 61 | Tucson, AZ | 24.0% | 23.3% |
| 63 | Harrisburg, PA | 23.7% | 23.0% |
| 64 | Grand Rapids, MI | 23.6% | 22.9% |
| 65 | Baltimore, MD | 24.0% | 22.8% |
| 66 | Chicago, IL | 23.7% | 22.7% |
| 67 | Salt Lake City, UT | 23.4% | 22.2% |
| 68 | Springfield, MA | 23.1% | 21.8% |
| 69 | Colorado Springs, CO | 23.0% | 21.5% |
| 70 | Syracuse, NY | 22.0% | 21.4% |
| 71 | Los Angeles, CA | 22.0% | 21.2% |
| 72 | Ogden, UT | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| 73 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 22.2% | 20.8% |
| 74 | Sacramento, CA | 21.6% | 20.7% |
| 75 | Providence, RI | 21.5% | 20.6% |
| 75 | Buffalo, NY | 21.7% | 20.6% |
| 75 | Rochester, NY | 21.1% | 20.6% |
| 78 | Albany, NY | 21.6% | 20.5% |
| 79 | Spokane, WA | 21.5% | 20.4% |
| 80 | New York, NY | 21.1% | 20.0% |
| 81 | Washington, DC | 20.5% | 19.8% |
| 82 | Bridgeport, CT | 21.2% | 19.7% |
| 83 | San Diego, CA | 20.2% | 19.3% |
| 84 | Pittsburgh, PA | 19.9% | 19.2% |
| 84 | Hartford, CT | 20.7% | 19.2% |
| 86 | Denver, CO | 19.8% | 18.8% |
| 87 | Boise, ID | 19.1% | 18.7% |
| 88 | Omaha, NE | 19.2% | 18.6% |
| 89 | Seattle, WA | 18.6% | 17.9% |
| 90 | Oxnard, CA | 17.9% | 17.3% |
| 91 | Worcester, MA | 18.2% | 17.2% |
| 92 | Des Moines, IA | 16.9% | 16.7% |
| 93 | San Jose, CA | 16.8% | 16.3% |
| 94 | Boston, MA | 16.8% | 16.0% |
| 94 | Portland, OR | 17.6% | 16.0% |
| 96 | Madison, WI | 16.2% | 15.5% |
| 97 | Honolulu, HI | 15.5% | 15.1% |
| 98 | San Francisco, CA | 15.7% | 14.9% |
| 99 | Minneapolis, MN | 15.8% | 14.8% |
| 100 | Provo, UT | 15.1% | 14.4% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros. Note: The rankings are based on those with accounts in collections.
Credit cards, auto loans, personal loans and more: How each metro stacks up by debt type
When it comes to each debt type, Greensboro, N.C., has the highest percentage of consumers behind on credit card payments (26.8%). It’s followed by:
- El Paso (24.8%)
- Baton Rouge (24.4%)
It’s not just credit cards — Greensboro also ties with Columbia, S.C., for the highest percentage of consumers behind on auto loan payments (11.1% for both). Jackson, Miss., rounds out the bottom three at 10.9%.
Among the other top ranking metros, McAllen has the highest rate of consumers late on personal loan payments (21.0%) and other types of debt (45.3%). El Paso ranks in the top three for both, at No. 2 for personal loan payments (17.2%) and No. 3 for other types of debt (35.7%) — with the latter just behind Baton Rouge (36.2%).
Further, Jackson, Miss., ranks highest for those behind on mortgage payments (2.4%) and student loan payments (1.9%). Jackson also ranks No. 3 for personal loan payments at 16.0%. When it comes to mortgages, three new metros follow Jackson:
- New Orleans (2.1%)
- Knoxville, Tenn. (1.8%)
- Wichita, Kan. (1.8%)
New metros also follow Jackson for the highest percentage of consumers behind on student loan payments:
- Bridgeport, Conn. (1.3%)
- Indianapolis (1.1%)
- New Haven, Conn. (1.1%)
- Syracuse, N.Y. (1.1%)
Full rankings
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on a credit card payment
| Rank | Metro | Late on a credit card payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro, NC | 26.8% |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | 24.8% |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | 24.4% |
| 4 | Winston-Salem, NC | 22.6% |
| 5 | Augusta, GA | 22.4% |
| 6 | Columbia, SC | 22.1% |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | 22.0% |
| 8 | Little Rock, AR | 21.9% |
| 9 | Memphis, TN | 21.6% |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | 21.5% |
| 11 | Jackson, MS | 21.4% |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | 21.1% |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | 20.5% |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | 20.5% |
| 15 | Birmingham, AL | 20.2% |
| 16 | Charleston, SC | 19.8% |
| 17 | Lakeland, FL | 19.7% |
| 18 | Dayton, OH | 19.6% |
| 19 | Houston, TX | 19.0% |
| 20 | Greenville, SC | 18.8% |
| 21 | Dallas, TX | 18.7% |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | 18.7% |
| 21 | McAllen, TX | 18.7% |
| 24 | Fresno, CA | 18.6% |
| 25 | Oklahoma City, OK | 18.4% |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA | 18.1% |
| 27 | New Haven, CT | 18.0% |
| 28 | Tulsa, OK | 17.9% |
| 28 | Durham, NC | 17.9% |
| 28 | Toledo, OH | 17.9% |
| 31 | Jacksonville, FL | 17.8% |
| 32 | Cleveland, OH | 17.7% |
| 33 | Scranton, PA | 17.6% |
| 34 | Riverside, CA | 17.4% |
| 35 | Tampa, FL | 16.9% |
| 35 | Cape Coral, FL | 16.9% |
| 37 | Austin, TX | 16.8% |
| 38 | Louisville, KY | 16.6% |
| 39 | Orlando, FL | 16.5% |
| 39 | Harrisburg, PA | 16.5% |
| 41 | Philadelphia, PA | 16.4% |
| 42 | Allentown, PA | 16.3% |
| 43 | Wichita, KS | 16.0% |
| 44 | Springfield, MA | 15.8% |
| 45 | Miami, FL | 15.6% |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | 15.5% |
| 46 | Albuquerque, NM | 15.5% |
| 48 | Cincinnati, OH | 15.4% |
| 48 | Richmond, VA | 15.4% |
| 50 | Detroit, MI | 15.3% |
| 50 | St. Louis, MO | 15.3% |
| 52 | Baltimore, MD | 15.2% |
| 53 | Nashville, TN | 15.1% |
| 54 | New York, NY | 15.0% |
| 54 | Worcester, MA | 15.0% |
| 54 | Bridgeport, CT | 15.0% |
| 57 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 14.9% |
| 58 | Columbus, OH | 14.8% |
| 58 | Tucson, AZ | 14.8% |
| 60 | Akron, OH | 14.7% |
| 60 | Deltona, FL | 14.7% |
| 62 | Knoxville, TN | 14.6% |
| 63 | Chicago, IL | 14.5% |
| 63 | Phoenix, AZ | 14.5% |
| 65 | Albany, NY | 14.4% |
| 65 | Syracuse, NY | 14.4% |
| 65 | Palm Bay, FL | 14.4% |
| 68 | Providence, RI | 14.3% |
| 68 | Rochester, NY | 14.3% |
| 70 | Buffalo, NY | 14.1% |
| 70 | Stockton, CA | 14.1% |
| 72 | Kansas City, MO | 13.9% |
| 73 | Charlotte, NC | 13.8% |
| 74 | Los Angeles, CA | 13.7% |
| 74 | Salt Lake City, UT | 13.7% |
| 76 | Denver, CO | 13.3% |
| 76 | Hartford, CT | 13.3% |
| 76 | Spokane, WA | 13.3% |
| 79 | Sacramento, CA | 13.2% |
| 80 | Colorado Springs, CO | 13.1% |
| 81 | Ogden, UT | 13.0% |
| 82 | San Diego, CA | 12.7% |
| 83 | North Port, FL | 12.6% |
| 84 | Washington, DC | 12.5% |
| 85 | Omaha, NE | 12.4% |
| 86 | Pittsburgh, PA | 12.2% |
| 87 | Oxnard, CA | 12.1% |
| 88 | Milwaukee, WI | 11.8% |
| 88 | Grand Rapids, MI | 11.8% |
| 90 | Boston, MA | 11.5% |
| 91 | Des Moines, IA | 11.2% |
| 92 | Seattle, WA | 11.1% |
| 93 | Madison, WI | 10.8% |
| 94 | San Jose, CA | 10.7% |
| 95 | Honolulu, HI | 10.5% |
| 96 | San Francisco, CA | 10.1% |
| 97 | Minneapolis, MN | 9.8% |
| 98 | Portland, OR | 9.7% |
| 98 | Provo, UT | 9.7% |
| 100 | Boise, ID | 8.6% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros.
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on an auto loan payment
| Rank | Metro | Late on an auto loan payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia, SC | 11.1% |
| 1 | Greensboro, NC | 11.1% |
| 3 | Jackson, MS | 10.9% |
| 4 | Baton Rouge, LA | 10.5% |
| 4 | Little Rock, AR | 10.5% |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | 9.8% |
| 6 | Birmingham, AL | 9.8% |
| 6 | McAllen, TX | 9.8% |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | 9.4% |
| 9 | Winston-Salem, NC | 9.4% |
| 11 | El Paso, TX | 9.2% |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | 8.5% |
| 13 | New Orleans, LA | 8.4% |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | 8.0% |
| 15 | Houston, TX | 7.9% |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | 7.9% |
| 15 | Virginia Beach, VA | 7.9% |
| 15 | Lakeland, FL | 7.9% |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | 7.8% |
| 20 | Milwaukee, WI | 7.5% |
| 21 | Albuquerque, NM | 7.4% |
| 22 | Augusta, GA | 7.3% |
| 23 | Fresno, CA | 7.2% |
| 24 | Austin, TX | 7.1% |
| 24 | Cleveland, OH | 7.1% |
| 24 | Akron, OH | 7.1% |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH | 6.9% |
| 27 | Jacksonville, FL | 6.9% |
| 27 | Oklahoma City, OK | 6.9% |
| 27 | Greenville, SC | 6.9% |
| 31 | Las Vegas, NV | 6.8% |
| 32 | Tulsa, OK | 6.7% |
| 32 | Dayton, OH | 6.7% |
| 34 | St. Louis, MO | 6.6% |
| 35 | Bakersfield, CA | 6.5% |
| 35 | Durham, NC | 6.5% |
| 37 | Orlando, FL | 6.3% |
| 38 | Cape Coral, FL | 6.1% |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | 6.0% |
| 39 | Richmond, VA | 6.0% |
| 41 | Riverside, CA | 5.9% |
| 41 | Wichita, KS | 5.9% |
| 41 | Scranton, PA | 5.9% |
| 44 | Indianapolis, IN | 5.8% |
| 45 | Detroit, MI | 5.6% |
| 45 | Charlotte, NC | 5.6% |
| 45 | Salt Lake City, UT | 5.6% |
| 45 | Toledo, OH | 5.6% |
| 49 | Phoenix, AZ | 5.5% |
| 49 | Grand Rapids, MI | 5.5% |
| 49 | Tucson, AZ | 5.5% |
| 49 | New Haven, CT | 5.5% |
| 53 | Harrisburg, PA | 5.4% |
| 54 | Miami, FL | 5.3% |
| 54 | Tampa, FL | 5.3% |
| 56 | Baltimore, MD | 5.2% |
| 56 | Louisville, KY | 5.2% |
| 58 | Philadelphia, PA | 5.1% |
| 58 | Stockton, CA | 5.1% |
| 58 | Colorado Springs, CO | 5.1% |
| 58 | Madison, WI | 5.1% |
| 62 | Kansas City, MO | 5.0% |
| 62 | Boise, ID | 5.0% |
| 62 | Deltona, FL | 5.0% |
| 65 | Chicago, IL | 4.9% |
| 66 | Nashville, TN | 4.8% |
| 66 | Springfield, MA | 4.8% |
| 68 | Washington, DC | 4.7% |
| 68 | Rochester, NY | 4.7% |
| 68 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 4.7% |
| 68 | Palm Bay, FL | 4.7% |
| 72 | Omaha, NE | 4.5% |
| 72 | Syracuse, NY | 4.5% |
| 74 | Des Moines, IA | 4.4% |
| 75 | Knoxville, TN | 4.0% |
| 75 | North Port, FL | 4.0% |
| 75 | Spokane, WA | 4.0% |
| 78 | Los Angeles, CA | 3.9% |
| 78 | Buffalo, NY | 3.9% |
| 80 | Albany, NY | 3.8% |
| 81 | Portland, OR | 3.7% |
| 81 | Providence, RI | 3.7% |
| 81 | Bridgeport, CT | 3.7% |
| 84 | Denver, CO | 3.5% |
| 84 | Pittsburgh, PA | 3.5% |
| 84 | Allentown, PA | 3.5% |
| 87 | New York, NY | 3.4% |
| 87 | San Francisco, CA | 3.4% |
| 87 | San Diego, CA | 3.4% |
| 87 | Sacramento, CA | 3.4% |
| 91 | Seattle, WA | 3.3% |
| 91 | Ogden, UT | 3.3% |
| 93 | Minneapolis, MN | 3.0% |
| 94 | San Jose, CA | 2.9% |
| 94 | Provo, UT | 2.9% |
| 96 | Boston, MA | 2.8% |
| 96 | Honolulu, HI | 2.8% |
| 96 | Worcester, MA | 2.8% |
| 96 | Oxnard, CA | 2.8% |
| 100 | Hartford, CT | 2.6% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros.
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on a personal loan payment
| Rank | Metro | Late on personal loan payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | 21.0% |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | 17.2% |
| 3 | Jackson, MS | 16.0% |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | 14.8% |
| 4 | Columbia, SC | 14.8% |
| 6 | Baton Rouge, LA | 12.8% |
| 7 | Greenville, SC | 12.3% |
| 8 | Charleston, SC | 11.8% |
| 9 | Houston, TX | 11.5% |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | 11.2% |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | 11.1% |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | 11.1% |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | 10.7% |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | 10.1% |
| 15 | Tulsa, OK | 9.9% |
| 15 | Augusta, GA | 9.9% |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | 9.6% |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | 9.3% |
| 19 | Austin, TX | 9.0% |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | 8.1% |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | 8.0% |
| 22 | Winston-Salem, NC | 7.8% |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | 7.7% |
| 24 | Jacksonville, FL | 7.6% |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | 7.5% |
| 26 | Atlanta, GA | 7.3% |
| 26 | Lakeland, FL | 7.3% |
| 28 | Dayton, OH | 7.2% |
| 29 | Raleigh, NC | 6.4% |
| 29 | Little Rock, AR | 6.4% |
| 29 | Madison, WI | 6.4% |
| 32 | St. Louis, MO | 6.3% |
| 32 | Richmond, VA | 6.3% |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | 6.1% |
| 34 | Akron, OH | 6.1% |
| 36 | Louisville, KY | 6.0% |
| 37 | Fresno, CA | 5.9% |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | 5.9% |
| 37 | Wichita, KS | 5.9% |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO | 5.8% |
| 40 | Durham, NC | 5.8% |
| 42 | Milwaukee, WI | 5.6% |
| 42 | Cape Coral, FL | 5.6% |
| 42 | Boise, ID | 5.6% |
| 45 | Riverside, CA | 5.5% |
| 45 | Charlotte, NC | 5.5% |
| 45 | Columbus, OH | 5.5% |
| 45 | Bakersfield, CA | 5.5% |
| 49 | Tampa, FL | 5.4% |
| 50 | Miami, FL | 5.2% |
| 50 | Orlando, FL | 5.2% |
| 50 | Cincinnati, OH | 5.2% |
| 50 | Indianapolis, IN | 5.2% |
| 54 | Ogden, UT | 5.1% |
| 55 | Detroit, MI | 4.9% |
| 55 | Salt Lake City, UT | 4.9% |
| 57 | Phoenix, AZ | 4.8% |
| 58 | North Port, FL | 4.5% |
| 58 | Colorado Springs, CO | 4.5% |
| 58 | Toledo, OH | 4.5% |
| 58 | Scranton, PA | 4.5% |
| 62 | Chicago, IL | 4.4% |
| 62 | Provo, UT | 4.4% |
| 64 | Los Angeles, CA | 4.3% |
| 65 | Providence, RI | 4.2% |
| 65 | Spokane, WA | 4.2% |
| 67 | San Diego, CA | 4.1% |
| 67 | Tucson, AZ | 4.1% |
| 69 | Washington, DC | 4.0% |
| 69 | Philadelphia, PA | 4.0% |
| 69 | Seattle, WA | 4.0% |
| 69 | Sacramento, CA | 4.0% |
| 69 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 4.0% |
| 74 | Minneapolis, MN | 3.8% |
| 75 | San Jose, CA | 3.7% |
| 75 | Omaha, NE | 3.7% |
| 77 | Portland, OR | 3.6% |
| 77 | Syracuse, NY | 3.6% |
| 79 | Pittsburgh, PA | 3.5% |
| 79 | Honolulu, HI | 3.5% |
| 79 | Des Moines, IA | 3.5% |
| 79 | Deltona, FL | 3.5% |
| 79 | Palm Bay, FL | 3.5% |
| 84 | San Francisco, CA | 3.4% |
| 84 | Baltimore, MD | 3.4% |
| 84 | Grand Rapids, MI | 3.4% |
| 84 | Allentown, PA | 3.4% |
| 88 | Springfield, MA | 3.3% |
| 89 | Denver, CO | 3.2% |
| 89 | Worcester, MA | 3.2% |
| 89 | Bridgeport, CT | 3.2% |
| 89 | Albany, NY | 3.2% |
| 93 | New York, NY | 3.1% |
| 94 | Rochester, NY | 3.0% |
| 95 | New Haven, CT | 2.9% |
| 95 | Harrisburg, PA | 2.9% |
| 97 | Buffalo, NY | 2.6% |
| 98 | Oxnard, CA | 2.5% |
| 99 | Hartford, CT | 2.4% |
| 100 | Boston, MA | 2.0% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros.
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on a mortgage payment
| Rank | Metro | Late on mortgage payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson, MS | 2.4% |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | 2.1% |
| 3 | Knoxville, TN | 1.8% |
| 3 | Wichita, KS | 1.8% |
| 5 | Little Rock, AR | 1.6% |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | 1.5% |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | 1.5% |
| 6 | New Haven, CT | 1.5% |
| 6 | Allentown, PA | 1.5% |
| 6 | Charleston, SC | 1.5% |
| 6 | Springfield, MA | 1.5% |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | 1.4% |
| 12 | Louisville, KY | 1.4% |
| 12 | Birmingham, AL | 1.4% |
| 12 | Tulsa, OK | 1.4% |
| 12 | McAllen, TX | 1.4% |
| 12 | El Paso, TX | 1.4% |
| 12 | Columbia, SC | 1.4% |
| 12 | Winston-Salem, NC | 1.4% |
| 12 | Harrisburg, PA | 1.4% |
| 21 | Houston, TX | 1.3% |
| 21 | Worcester, MA | 1.3% |
| 21 | Greensboro, NC | 1.3% |
| 21 | Syracuse, NY | 1.3% |
| 25 | Baltimore, MD | 1.2% |
| 25 | Las Vegas, NV | 1.2% |
| 25 | Virginia Beach, VA | 1.2% |
| 25 | Hartford, CT | 1.2% |
| 25 | Grand Rapids, MI | 1.2% |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | 1.2% |
| 25 | Lakeland, FL | 1.2% |
| 25 | Scranton, PA | 1.2% |
| 33 | Cincinnati, OH | 1.1% |
| 33 | Oklahoma City, OK | 1.1% |
| 33 | Bridgeport, CT | 1.1% |
| 33 | Baton Rouge, LA | 1.1% |
| 33 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 1.1% |
| 33 | Augusta, GA | 1.1% |
| 39 | Dallas, TX | 1.0% |
| 39 | Philadelphia, PA | 1.0% |
| 39 | Atlanta, GA | 1.0% |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | 1.0% |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | 1.0% |
| 39 | Cape Coral, FL | 1.0% |
| 39 | Madison, WI | 1.0% |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | 0.9% |
| 46 | Washington, DC | 0.9% |
| 46 | St. Louis, MO | 0.9% |
| 46 | Charlotte, NC | 0.9% |
| 46 | Indianapolis, IN | 0.9% |
| 46 | Cleveland, OH | 0.9% |
| 46 | Jacksonville, FL | 0.9% |
| 46 | Rochester, NY | 0.9% |
| 46 | Greenville, SC | 0.9% |
| 46 | Colorado Springs, CO | 0.9% |
| 46 | Des Moines, IA | 0.9% |
| 46 | Durham, NC | 0.9% |
| 58 | Tampa, FL | 0.8% |
| 58 | Denver, CO | 0.8% |
| 58 | Pittsburgh, PA | 0.8% |
| 58 | Austin, TX | 0.8% |
| 58 | Kansas City, MO | 0.8% |
| 58 | Columbus, OH | 0.8% |
| 58 | Richmond, VA | 0.8% |
| 58 | Buffalo, NY | 0.8% |
| 58 | Omaha, NE | 0.8% |
| 58 | North Port, FL | 0.8% |
| 58 | Akron, OH | 0.8% |
| 58 | Deltona, FL | 0.8% |
| 70 | Miami, FL | 0.7% |
| 70 | Detroit, MI | 0.7% |
| 70 | Nashville, TN | 0.7% |
| 70 | Honolulu, HI | 0.7% |
| 70 | Albany, NY | 0.7% |
| 70 | Dayton, OH | 0.7% |
| 70 | Provo, UT | 0.7% |
| 77 | New York, NY | 0.6% |
| 77 | Seattle, WA | 0.6% |
| 77 | Orlando, FL | 0.6% |
| 77 | Portland, OR | 0.6% |
| 77 | Sacramento, CA | 0.6% |
| 77 | Providence, RI | 0.6% |
| 77 | Boise, ID | 0.6% |
| 77 | Spokane, WA | 0.6% |
| 85 | Boston, MA | 0.5% |
| 85 | Phoenix, AZ | 0.5% |
| 85 | Riverside, CA | 0.5% |
| 85 | Milwaukee, WI | 0.5% |
| 85 | Salt Lake City, UT | 0.5% |
| 85 | Fresno, CA | 0.5% |
| 85 | Toledo, OH | 0.5% |
| 92 | Oxnard, CA | 0.4% |
| 93 | Los Angeles, CA | 0.3% |
| 93 | San Francisco, CA | 0.3% |
| 93 | San Jose, CA | 0.3% |
| 93 | Bakersfield, CA | 0.3% |
| 93 | Stockton, CA | 0.3% |
| 98 | San Diego, CA | 0.2% |
| 98 | Ogden, UT | 0.2% |
| 98 | Palm Bay, FL | 0.2% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros.
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on a student loan payment
| Rank | Metro | Late on student loan payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson, MS | 1.9% |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | 1.3% |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | 1.1% |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | 1.1% |
| 3 | Syracuse, NY | 1.1% |
| 6 | Akron, OH | 0.9% |
| 7 | Columbia, SC | 0.8% |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | 0.7% |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | 0.7% |
| 8 | Albuquerque, NM | 0.7% |
| 8 | Baton Rouge, LA | 0.7% |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | 0.6% |
| 12 | Orlando, FL | 0.6% |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | 0.6% |
| 12 | New Orleans, LA | 0.6% |
| 12 | Dayton, OH | 0.6% |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | 0.6% |
| 12 | Wichita, KS | 0.6% |
| 12 | Augusta, GA | 0.6% |
| 12 | Spokane, WA | 0.6% |
| 21 | New York, NY | 0.5% |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | 0.5% |
| 21 | Washington, DC | 0.5% |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | 0.5% |
| 21 | St. Louis, MO | 0.5% |
| 21 | San Antonio, TX | 0.5% |
| 21 | Cincinnati, OH | 0.5% |
| 21 | Kansas City, MO | 0.5% |
| 21 | Nashville, TN | 0.5% |
| 21 | Oklahoma City, OK | 0.5% |
| 21 | Omaha, NE | 0.5% |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | 0.5% |
| 21 | North Port, FL | 0.5% |
| 21 | Greensboro, NC | 0.5% |
| 21 | Lakeland, FL | 0.5% |
| 21 | Winston-Salem, NC | 0.5% |
| 21 | Durham, NC | 0.5% |
| 21 | Palm Bay, FL | 0.5% |
| 39 | Dallas, TX | 0.4% |
| 39 | Houston, TX | 0.4% |
| 39 | Philadelphia, PA | 0.4% |
| 39 | Boston, MA | 0.4% |
| 39 | Minneapolis, MN | 0.4% |
| 39 | Tampa, FL | 0.4% |
| 39 | Baltimore, MD | 0.4% |
| 39 | Charlotte, NC | 0.4% |
| 39 | Austin, TX | 0.4% |
| 39 | Las Vegas, NV | 0.4% |
| 39 | Columbus, OH | 0.4% |
| 39 | Virginia Beach, VA | 0.4% |
| 39 | Milwaukee, WI | 0.4% |
| 39 | Raleigh, NC | 0.4% |
| 39 | Louisville, KY | 0.4% |
| 39 | Tulsa, OK | 0.4% |
| 39 | McAllen, TX | 0.4% |
| 39 | Charleston, SC | 0.4% |
| 39 | Des Moines, IA | 0.4% |
| 39 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 0.4% |
| 39 | Harrisburg, PA | 0.4% |
| 60 | Miami, FL | 0.3% |
| 60 | Phoenix, AZ | 0.3% |
| 60 | Seattle, WA | 0.3% |
| 60 | Portland, OR | 0.3% |
| 60 | Sacramento, CA | 0.3% |
| 60 | Jacksonville, FL | 0.3% |
| 60 | Buffalo, NY | 0.3% |
| 60 | Birmingham, AL | 0.3% |
| 60 | Worcester, MA | 0.3% |
| 60 | Albany, NY | 0.3% |
| 60 | Allentown, PA | 0.3% |
| 60 | Oxnard, CA | 0.3% |
| 60 | Deltona, FL | 0.3% |
| 60 | Toledo, OH | 0.3% |
| 74 | Los Angeles, CA | 0.2% |
| 74 | San Francisco, CA | 0.2% |
| 74 | Denver, CO | 0.2% |
| 74 | Pittsburgh, PA | 0.2% |
| 74 | San Jose, CA | 0.2% |
| 74 | Providence, RI | 0.2% |
| 74 | Rochester, NY | 0.2% |
| 74 | Tucson, AZ | 0.2% |
| 74 | Bakersfield, CA | 0.2% |
| 74 | Knoxville, TN | 0.2% |
| 74 | Boise, ID | 0.2% |
| 74 | Ogden, UT | 0.2% |
| 74 | Springfield, MA | 0.2% |
| 74 | Provo, UT | 0.2% |
| 74 | Scranton, PA | 0.2% |
| 89 | Riverside, CA | 0.1% |
| 89 | Salt Lake City, UT | 0.1% |
| 89 | Hartford, CT | 0.1% |
| 89 | Greenville, SC | 0.1% |
| 89 | Cape Coral, FL | 0.1% |
| 94 | San Diego, CA | 0.0% |
| 94 | Richmond, VA | 0.0% |
| 94 | Honolulu, HI | 0.0% |
| 94 | Fresno, CA | 0.0% |
| 94 | Stockton, CA | 0.0% |
| 94 | Little Rock, AR | 0.0% |
| 94 | Madison, WI | 0.0% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros.
Metros with the highest percentage of Americans late on an ‘other’ payment
| Rank | Metro | Late on other payment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McAllen, TX | 45.3% |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | 36.2% |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | 35.7% |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | 35.2% |
| 4 | Greenville, SC | 35.2% |
| 6 | Columbia, SC | 34.7% |
| 7 | Augusta, GA | 33.6% |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | 32.6% |
| 9 | New Orleans, LA | 31.9% |
| 10 | Greensboro, NC | 31.3% |
| 11 | Jackson, MS | 31.2% |
| 12 | Winston-Salem, NC | 31.1% |
| 13 | Houston, TX | 30.7% |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | 30.6% |
| 15 | Birmingham, AL | 29.9% |
| 16 | Lakeland, FL | 29.5% |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | 29.4% |
| 18 | Little Rock, AR | 29.0% |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | 28.8% |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | 28.1% |
| 21 | Virginia Beach, VA | 27.6% |
| 22 | Dayton, OH | 27.2% |
| 23 | Las Vegas, NV | 27.1% |
| 24 | Atlanta, GA | 26.7% |
| 24 | Oklahoma City, OK | 26.7% |
| 26 | Louisville, KY | 26.3% |
| 27 | Wichita, KS | 26.1% |
| 28 | Knoxville, TN | 25.6% |
| 29 | Austin, TX | 25.5% |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | 25.5% |
| 31 | Orlando, FL | 25.4% |
| 31 | Toledo, OH | 25.4% |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | 25.0% |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | 24.6% |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC | 24.6% |
| 36 | Cincinnati, OH | 24.1% |
| 37 | Tampa, FL | 23.8% |
| 38 | Albuquerque, NM | 23.6% |
| 39 | Akron, OH | 23.4% |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO | 23.2% |
| 41 | St. Louis, MO | 22.7% |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | 22.4% |
| 43 | Richmond, VA | 22.1% |
| 44 | Deltona, FL | 22.0% |
| 45 | Durham, NC | 21.6% |
| 46 | Scranton, PA | 21.5% |
| 47 | Riverside, CA | 21.3% |
| 48 | Indianapolis, IN | 21.1% |
| 49 | Charlotte, NC | 21.0% |
| 50 | Nashville, TN | 20.8% |
| 50 | Cape Coral, FL | 20.8% |
| 52 | Detroit, MI | 20.5% |
| 53 | Grand Rapids, MI | 20.3% |
| 54 | Miami, FL | 20.2% |
| 54 | Phoenix, AZ | 20.2% |
| 54 | North Port, FL | 20.2% |
| 57 | Milwaukee, WI | 19.9% |
| 58 | Palm Bay, FL | 19.6% |
| 59 | Philadelphia, PA | 19.2% |
| 60 | Stockton, CA | 19.1% |
| 60 | Ogden, UT | 19.1% |
| 62 | Salt Lake City, UT | 18.9% |
| 62 | Tucson, AZ | 18.9% |
| 64 | Allentown, PA | 18.8% |
| 64 | Harrisburg, PA | 18.8% |
| 66 | New Haven, CT | 18.7% |
| 67 | Chicago, IL | 18.2% |
| 68 | Baltimore, MD | 17.4% |
| 69 | Spokane, WA | 17.3% |
| 70 | Colorado Springs, CO | 17.2% |
| 71 | Albany, NY | 16.8% |
| 72 | Sacramento, CA | 16.7% |
| 73 | Los Angeles, CA | 16.6% |
| 73 | Syracuse, NY | 16.6% |
| 75 | Boise, ID | 16.5% |
| 76 | Providence, RI | 16.4% |
| 76 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 16.4% |
| 78 | Rochester, NY | 16.3% |
| 79 | Pittsburgh, PA | 16.1% |
| 79 | Buffalo, NY | 16.1% |
| 79 | Springfield, MA | 16.1% |
| 82 | San Diego, CA | 16.0% |
| 83 | Denver, CO | 15.8% |
| 84 | Bridgeport, CT | 15.4% |
| 85 | Omaha, NE | 15.0% |
| 86 | Washington, DC | 14.8% |
| 87 | New York, NY | 14.7% |
| 88 | Seattle, WA | 14.6% |
| 89 | Hartford, CT | 14.4% |
| 90 | Des Moines, IA | 13.9% |
| 91 | Portland, OR | 13.3% |
| 92 | Oxnard, CA | 13.1% |
| 93 | Madison, WI | 12.9% |
| 94 | San Jose, CA | 12.8% |
| 94 | Worcester, MA | 12.8% |
| 96 | Boston, MA | 12.3% |
| 96 | Provo, UT | 12.3% |
| 98 | San Francisco, CA | 12.2% |
| 99 | Minneapolis, MN | 12.1% |
| 100 | Honolulu, HI | 9.9% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros.
Millennials are most likely to be behind on a debt payment
By age group, younger consumers are more likely to struggle with their debts than older consumers. In fact, in the third quarter of 2023, over a third of millennials (ages 27 to 42) (36.7%) and Gen Zers (ages 18 to 26) (36.2%) are late on at least one account payment.
Breaking that down further, millennials are the most likely to be late on paying their credit card accounts (19.6%), car payments (7.8%), personal loans (8.3%) and other debts (27.9%). Millennials also tie with Gen Zers as the most likely age groups to be behind on their student loans (at 0.5% for both). When it comes to mortgages, however, Gen Xers (ages 43 to 58) are slightly more likely to be behind, with 1.2% of this age group struggling to pay their mortgage.
Meanwhile, millennials are 84.4% more likely to have debt in collections than baby boomers (ages 59 to 77) — while 33.0% of millennials have a debt in collections, just 17.9% of baby boomers say similarly.
Percentage of Americans late on debt payments by generation
| Generation | Late on at least 1 account | Late on 3 or more accounts | Serious delinquency (late at least 90 days) | Any account in collections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby boomer | 20.3% | 2.9% | 18.6% | 17.9% |
| Gen X | 30.2% | 5.9% | 27.9% | 27.0% |
| Millennial | 36.7% | 7.4% | 34.1% | 33.0% |
| Gen Z | 36.2% | 5.1% | 32.6% | 30.7% |
Source: LendingTree analysis of anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023, in the 100 largest metros. Note: When analyzing the percentage of consumers late on three or more accounts, analysts only included those late on different types of accounts.
Schulz says there are potentially massive long-term consequences for being late and in collections, particularly for younger consumers.
“It can wreck your credit, plain and simple, and poor credit limits your financial options in a big way,” he says. “For example, it can keep you from being able to get a loan or it can lead to unfavorable terms such as high interest rates and small credit limits on loans you’re approved for. Bad credit can even affect your ability to get a cellphone, job or new apartment. There are already enough headwinds facing Gen Z and millennials. They certainly don’t need any more of them.”
And it’s not just one type of debt millennials struggle with. Among this age group, 7.4% need to catch up on three or more different types of debt payments — that’s the highest by generation. Meanwhile, just 2.9% of baby boomers are similarly behind.
Behind on debt? Here’s what experts recommend
Given the state of the economy, falling behind on debt is dangerously easy — but climbing out of that hole doesn’t have to be hard. For those looking to catch up on their payments, Schulz recommends the following advice:
- Communicate, communicate, communicate. “When you know you won’t be able to make a payment, call the lender and let them know,” he says. “They may be willing to work with you on a temporary plan to help you get through the short-term rough patch you’re facing, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask.”
- Look for ways to lower your interest rate. “The rate you pay on your loans makes a big difference in your payments, so reducing them can be a great move,” Schulz says. “Consider consolidating your debts with a 0% balance transfer credit card or a low-interest personal loan. You can even call the issuer and ask them to lower your rate. Your chances of success may be better than you think.”
- Reassess your budget. “Sometimes you’re getting as much as you can out of your income, but that’s not always the case,” he says. “It’s worth taking a look at your latest budget and seeing if there are any sacrifices that can be made to free up a little bit of extra money to go toward keeping your debt payments current.”
Methodology
To determine the percentage of consumers with late debt payments, LendingTree researchers analyzed the anonymized credit reports of about 310,000 users on the LendingTree platform from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2023. Specifically, researchers looked at active and closed accounts with a balance on credit cards, auto loans, personal loans, mortgages, student loans and other.
Researchers looked at the following:
- The percentage of consumers with credit reports with at least one account with delinquent payments (late by 30 days or more)
- The percentage of consumers with three or more accounts with delinquent payments (late by 30 days or more)
- The percentage of consumers with at least one account late by 90 days or more
- The percentage of consumers with accounts in collections
- The percentage of consumers behind on their debt payments in each debt category (at least one account)
Researchers used the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey with five-year estimates to identify the 100 largest metros.
To define generations, LendingTree analysts used the following ranges from the Pew Research Center:
- Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2005; ages 18 to 26 in 2023)
- Millennial (born between 1981 and 1996; ages 27 to 42 in 2023)
- Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980; ages 43 to 58 in 2023)
- Baby boomer (born between 1946 and 1964; ages 59 to 77 in 2023)