Debt Consolidation
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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

Nearly 30% of Americans in 100 Largest Metros Are Behind on Debt Payments

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.

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.

  • 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.

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.

LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz finds this figure concerning.“That’s a huge number of people behind on their debt payments,” he says. “Late payments can damage your credit score, making things even tougher on you financially. After all, few things in life are more expensive than crummy credit.”

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

RankMetroLate on at least 1 accountLate on 3 or more accounts
1McAllen, TX51.7%12.8%
2El Paso, TX46.3%11.7%
3Baton Rouge, LA45.0%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

RankMetroLate on at least 1 accountLate on 3 or more accounts
1McAllen, TX51.7%12.8%
2El Paso, TX46.3%11.7%
3Baton Rouge, LA45.0%11.6%
4Greensboro, NC44.8%9.2%
5Columbia, SC44.6%11.5%
6Jackson, MS44.0%12.7%
7San Antonio, TX43.8%11.3%
8Augusta, GA43.3%7.5%
9Greenville, SC42.6%8.5%
10Memphis, TN42.5%8.5%
11Winston-Salem, NC41.4%8.4%
12New Orleans, LA41.1%8.8%
13Birmingham, AL39.8%8.9%
14Little Rock, AR39.6%8.1%
15Lakeland, FL38.9%8.1%
16Houston, TX38.1%9.3%
17Dallas, TX37.9%8.8%
18Charleston, SC36.8%9.8%
19Tulsa, OK36.1%7.9%
20Jacksonville, FL36.0%7.1%
21Virginia Beach, VA35.9%7.9%
21Oklahoma City, OK35.9%7.8%
23Atlanta, GA35.8%7.4%
23Las Vegas, NV35.8%7.2%
25Dayton, OH35.1%7.2%
26Raleigh, NC34.8%7.6%
27Louisville, KY34.2%4.8%
28Wichita, KS34.1%5.1%
29Fresno, CA33.7%5.9%
30Austin, TX33.2%7.4%
31Toledo, OH32.3%5.3%
32Orlando, FL32.2%5.7%
32Bakersfield, CA32.2%5.9%
34Knoxville, TN32.0%5.1%
34Durham, NC32.0%4.9%
36Albuquerque, NM31.6%7.8%
37Cleveland, OH31.5%6.8%
38Tampa, FL31.3%5.3%
39Cincinnati, OH30.6%6.0%
40St. Louis, MO30.0%5.7%
41Scranton, PA29.9%4.2%
42Akron, OH29.7%6.3%
43Riverside, CA29.6%5.4%
44Deltona, FL29.4%3.4%
45Kansas City, MO29.3%5.0%
45Richmond, VA29.3%5.5%
47Indianapolis, IN29.1%5.7%
48Nashville, TN28.6%4.8%
48Cape Coral, FL28.6%4.7%
50Miami, FL28.5%4.7%
50Detroit, MI28.5%4.7%
50Columbus, OH28.5%5.7%
53New Haven, CT27.8%4.6%
54Phoenix, AZ27.6%4.7%
54Charlotte, NC27.6%5.2%
56Philadelphia, PA27.4%4.3%
57Baltimore, MD27.1%3.6%
58Palm Bay, FL26.9%3.9%
59Allentown, PA26.8%3.7%
60Milwaukee, WI26.7%5.4%
61Tucson, AZ26.6%4.8%
61Stockton, CA26.6%4.8%
61Harrisburg, PA26.6%4.3%
64Chicago, IL26.1%4.1%
65Grand Rapids, MI26.0%3.8%
66North Port, FL25.9%4.3%
67Springfield, MA25.7%3.1%
68Salt Lake City, UT25.4%4.9%
69Colorado Springs, CO25.0%3.5%
69Poughkeepsie, NY25.0%3.6%
71Providence, RI24.3%3.3%
72Ogden, UT24.2%4.7%
72Syracuse, NY24.2%4.0%
74Albany, NY24.1%3.3%
75Bridgeport, CT23.8%3.4%
76New York, NY23.7%2.7%
76Los Angeles, CA23.7%3.5%
78Sacramento, CA23.6%3.4%
79Buffalo, NY23.5%3.0%
80Rochester, NY23.4%3.6%
81Washington, DC22.7%3.3%
81Hartford, CT22.7%2.5%
83Denver, CO22.5%3.4%
84Spokane, WA22.4%4.2%
85San Diego, CA22.2%3.2%
86Omaha, NE21.7%4.0%
87Pittsburgh, PA21.6%3.3%
88Boise, ID21.1%4.6%
89Worcester, MA20.8%3.5%
90Seattle, WA20.5%3.3%
91Oxnard, CA20.2%2.4%
92Portland, OR20.0%2.9%
93Boston, MA18.9%2.0%
94Des Moines, IA18.4%4.6%
95San Jose, CA18.1%3.7%
96San Francisco, CA17.9%2.9%
96Madison, WI17.9%5.7%
98Minneapolis, MN17.7%3.5%
99Honolulu, HI17.2%2.2%
100Provo, UT16.8%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.

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

RankMetroSeriously delinquent (at least 90 days)Account in collections
1McAllen, TX49.8%49.1%
2Baton Rouge, LA42.0%41.1%
3El Paso, TX43.4%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

RankMetroSeriously delinquent (late at least 90 days)Account in collections
1McAllen, TX49.8%49.1%
2Baton Rouge, LA42.0%41.1%
3El Paso, TX43.4%41.0%
4Columbia, SC42.4%40.5%
5Greenville, SC41.1%40.2%
6San Antonio, TX41.4%40.1%
7Greensboro, NC41.6%39.9%
8Augusta, GA40.0%38.3%
9Jackson, MS40.2%37.8%
10Memphis, TN39.6%37.7%
11Winston-Salem, NC38.6%37.6%
12New Orleans, LA37.9%36.6%
13Birmingham, AL37.1%35.3%
14Little Rock, AR36.3%35.2%
15Houston, TX36.1%34.9%
16Dallas, TX35.7%34.7%
17Lakeland, FL35.3%34.4%
18Charleston, SC34.3%33.7%
19Jacksonville, FL34.0%33.3%
20Virginia Beach, VA33.9%33.2%
21Tulsa, OK33.1%32.3%
22Las Vegas, NV33.0%32.0%
23Atlanta, GA33.2%31.8%
24Oklahoma City, OK32.9%31.7%
25Raleigh, NC32.4%31.5%
26Dayton, OH32.2%31.4%
27Louisville, KY31.1%30.6%
28Wichita, KS30.9%30.0%
29Austin, TX31.1%29.9%
30Fresno, CA30.6%29.8%
31Bakersfield, CA30.3%29.3%
32Orlando, FL30.3%29.1%
33Toledo, OH29.5%28.9%
34Knoxville, TN29.1%28.7%
35Durham, NC29.6%28.6%
36Tampa, FL29.2%28.5%
37Cleveland, OH29.2%28.2%
38Albuquerque, NM29.3%28.1%
39St. Louis, MO27.8%26.7%
39Cincinnati, OH28.1%26.7%
41Kansas City, MO27.1%26.4%
42Akron, OH27.9%26.3%
43Deltona, FL27.3%26.2%
44Scranton, PA28.0%26.1%
45Columbus, OH26.6%25.9%
45Richmond, VA27.2%25.9%
47Riverside, CA26.9%25.8%
48Indianapolis, IN26.5%25.3%
49Miami, FL25.8%25.1%
50Cape Coral, FL26.6%24.9%
51Detroit, MI25.8%24.8%
51Charlotte, NC25.6%24.8%
53Phoenix, AZ25.2%24.4%
54Stockton, CA25.1%24.2%
55Nashville, TN25.3%24.1%
56Philadelphia, PA24.9%23.9%
56Allentown, PA24.9%23.9%
56North Port, FL24.4%23.9%
59Palm Bay, FL25.0%23.6%
60New Haven, CT24.9%23.4%
61Milwaukee, WI23.9%23.3%
61Tucson, AZ24.0%23.3%
63Harrisburg, PA23.7%23.0%
64Grand Rapids, MI23.6%22.9%
65Baltimore, MD24.0%22.8%
66Chicago, IL23.7%22.7%
67Salt Lake City, UT23.4%22.2%
68Springfield, MA23.1%21.8%
69Colorado Springs, CO23.0%21.5%
70Syracuse, NY22.0%21.4%
71Los Angeles, CA22.0%21.2%
72Ogden, UT22.2%21.0%
73Poughkeepsie, NY22.2%20.8%
74Sacramento, CA21.6%20.7%
75Providence, RI21.5%20.6%
75Buffalo, NY21.7%20.6%
75Rochester, NY21.1%20.6%
78Albany, NY21.6%20.5%
79Spokane, WA21.5%20.4%
80New York, NY21.1%20.0%
81Washington, DC20.5%19.8%
82Bridgeport, CT21.2%19.7%
83San Diego, CA20.2%19.3%
84Pittsburgh, PA19.9%19.2%
84Hartford, CT20.7%19.2%
86Denver, CO19.8%18.8%
87Boise, ID19.1%18.7%
88Omaha, NE19.2%18.6%
89Seattle, WA18.6%17.9%
90Oxnard, CA17.9%17.3%
91Worcester, MA18.2%17.2%
92Des Moines, IA16.9%16.7%
93San Jose, CA16.8%16.3%
94Boston, MA16.8%16.0%
94Portland, OR17.6%16.0%
96Madison, WI16.2%15.5%
97Honolulu, HI15.5%15.1%
98San Francisco, CA15.7%14.9%
99Minneapolis, MN15.8%14.8%
100Provo, UT15.1%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.

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

RankMetroLate on a credit card payment
1Greensboro, NC26.8%
2El Paso, TX24.8%
3Baton Rouge, LA24.4%
4Winston-Salem, NC22.6%
5Augusta, GA22.4%
6Columbia, SC22.1%
7San Antonio, TX22.0%
8Little Rock, AR21.9%
9Memphis, TN21.6%
10Raleigh, NC21.5%
11Jackson, MS21.4%
12New Orleans, LA21.1%
13Atlanta, GA20.5%
13Las Vegas, NV20.5%
15Birmingham, AL20.2%
16Charleston, SC19.8%
17Lakeland, FL19.7%
18Dayton, OH19.6%
19Houston, TX19.0%
20Greenville, SC18.8%
21Dallas, TX18.7%
21Virginia Beach, VA18.7%
21McAllen, TX18.7%
24Fresno, CA18.6%
25Oklahoma City, OK18.4%
26Bakersfield, CA18.1%
27New Haven, CT18.0%
28Tulsa, OK17.9%
28Durham, NC17.9%
28Toledo, OH17.9%
31Jacksonville, FL17.8%
32Cleveland, OH17.7%
33Scranton, PA17.6%
34Riverside, CA17.4%
35Tampa, FL16.9%
35Cape Coral, FL16.9%
37Austin, TX16.8%
38Louisville, KY16.6%
39Orlando, FL16.5%
39Harrisburg, PA16.5%
41Philadelphia, PA16.4%
42Allentown, PA16.3%
43Wichita, KS16.0%
44Springfield, MA15.8%
45Miami, FL15.6%
46Indianapolis, IN15.5%
46Albuquerque, NM15.5%
48Cincinnati, OH15.4%
48Richmond, VA15.4%
50Detroit, MI15.3%
50St. Louis, MO15.3%
52Baltimore, MD15.2%
53Nashville, TN15.1%
54New York, NY15.0%
54Worcester, MA15.0%
54Bridgeport, CT15.0%
57Poughkeepsie, NY14.9%
58Columbus, OH14.8%
58Tucson, AZ14.8%
60Akron, OH14.7%
60Deltona, FL14.7%
62Knoxville, TN14.6%
63Chicago, IL14.5%
63Phoenix, AZ14.5%
65Albany, NY14.4%
65Syracuse, NY14.4%
65Palm Bay, FL14.4%
68Providence, RI14.3%
68Rochester, NY14.3%
70Buffalo, NY14.1%
70Stockton, CA14.1%
72Kansas City, MO13.9%
73Charlotte, NC13.8%
74Los Angeles, CA13.7%
74Salt Lake City, UT13.7%
76Denver, CO13.3%
76Hartford, CT13.3%
76Spokane, WA13.3%
79Sacramento, CA13.2%
80Colorado Springs, CO13.1%
81Ogden, UT13.0%
82San Diego, CA12.7%
83North Port, FL12.6%
84Washington, DC12.5%
85Omaha, NE12.4%
86Pittsburgh, PA12.2%
87Oxnard, CA12.1%
88Milwaukee, WI11.8%
88Grand Rapids, MI11.8%
90Boston, MA11.5%
91Des Moines, IA11.2%
92Seattle, WA11.1%
93Madison, WI10.8%
94San Jose, CA10.7%
95Honolulu, HI10.5%
96San Francisco, CA10.1%
97Minneapolis, MN9.8%
98Portland, OR9.7%
98Provo, UT9.7%
100Boise, ID8.6%

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

RankMetroLate on an auto loan payment
1Columbia, SC11.1%
1Greensboro, NC11.1%
3Jackson, MS10.9%
4Baton Rouge, LA10.5%
4Little Rock, AR10.5%
6Raleigh, NC9.8%
6Birmingham, AL9.8%
6McAllen, TX9.8%
9San Antonio, TX9.4%
9Winston-Salem, NC9.4%
11El Paso, TX9.2%
12Memphis, TN8.5%
13New Orleans, LA8.4%
14Dallas, TX8.0%
15Houston, TX7.9%
15Atlanta, GA7.9%
15Virginia Beach, VA7.9%
15Lakeland, FL7.9%
19Charleston, SC7.8%
20Milwaukee, WI7.5%
21Albuquerque, NM7.4%
22Augusta, GA7.3%
23Fresno, CA7.2%
24Austin, TX7.1%
24Cleveland, OH7.1%
24Akron, OH7.1%
27Cincinnati, OH6.9%
27Jacksonville, FL6.9%
27Oklahoma City, OK6.9%
27Greenville, SC6.9%
31Las Vegas, NV6.8%
32Tulsa, OK6.7%
32Dayton, OH6.7%
34St. Louis, MO6.6%
35Bakersfield, CA6.5%
35Durham, NC6.5%
37Orlando, FL6.3%
38Cape Coral, FL6.1%
39Columbus, OH6.0%
39Richmond, VA6.0%
41Riverside, CA5.9%
41Wichita, KS5.9%
41Scranton, PA5.9%
44Indianapolis, IN5.8%
45Detroit, MI5.6%
45Charlotte, NC5.6%
45Salt Lake City, UT5.6%
45Toledo, OH5.6%
49Phoenix, AZ5.5%
49Grand Rapids, MI5.5%
49Tucson, AZ5.5%
49New Haven, CT5.5%
53Harrisburg, PA5.4%
54Miami, FL5.3%
54Tampa, FL5.3%
56Baltimore, MD5.2%
56Louisville, KY5.2%
58Philadelphia, PA5.1%
58Stockton, CA5.1%
58Colorado Springs, CO5.1%
58Madison, WI5.1%
62Kansas City, MO5.0%
62Boise, ID5.0%
62Deltona, FL5.0%
65Chicago, IL4.9%
66Nashville, TN4.8%
66Springfield, MA4.8%
68Washington, DC4.7%
68Rochester, NY4.7%
68Poughkeepsie, NY4.7%
68Palm Bay, FL4.7%
72Omaha, NE4.5%
72Syracuse, NY4.5%
74Des Moines, IA4.4%
75Knoxville, TN4.0%
75North Port, FL4.0%
75Spokane, WA4.0%
78Los Angeles, CA3.9%
78Buffalo, NY3.9%
80Albany, NY3.8%
81Portland, OR3.7%
81Providence, RI3.7%
81Bridgeport, CT3.7%
84Denver, CO3.5%
84Pittsburgh, PA3.5%
84Allentown, PA3.5%
87New York, NY3.4%
87San Francisco, CA3.4%
87San Diego, CA3.4%
87Sacramento, CA3.4%
91Seattle, WA3.3%
91Ogden, UT3.3%
93Minneapolis, MN3.0%
94San Jose, CA2.9%
94Provo, UT2.9%
96Boston, MA2.8%
96Honolulu, HI2.8%
96Worcester, MA2.8%
96Oxnard, CA2.8%
100Hartford, CT2.6%

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

RankMetroLate on personal loan payment
1McAllen, TX21.0%
2El Paso, TX17.2%
3Jackson, MS16.0%
4San Antonio, TX14.8%
4Columbia, SC14.8%
6Baton Rouge, LA12.8%
7Greenville, SC12.3%
8Charleston, SC11.8%
9Houston, TX11.5%
10Oklahoma City, OK11.2%
11Memphis, TN11.1%
11Birmingham, AL11.1%
13Dallas, TX10.7%
14Greensboro, NC10.1%
15Tulsa, OK9.9%
15Augusta, GA9.9%
17New Orleans, LA9.6%
18Albuquerque, NM9.3%
19Austin, TX9.0%
20Knoxville, TN8.1%
21Virginia Beach, VA8.0%
22Winston-Salem, NC7.8%
23Nashville, TN7.7%
24Jacksonville, FL7.6%
25Las Vegas, NV7.5%
26Atlanta, GA7.3%
26Lakeland, FL7.3%
28Dayton, OH7.2%
29Raleigh, NC6.4%
29Little Rock, AR6.4%
29Madison, WI6.4%
32St. Louis, MO6.3%
32Richmond, VA6.3%
34Cleveland, OH6.1%
34Akron, OH6.1%
36Louisville, KY6.0%
37Fresno, CA5.9%
37Stockton, CA5.9%
37Wichita, KS5.9%
40Kansas City, MO5.8%
40Durham, NC5.8%
42Milwaukee, WI5.6%
42Cape Coral, FL5.6%
42Boise, ID5.6%
45Riverside, CA5.5%
45Charlotte, NC5.5%
45Columbus, OH5.5%
45Bakersfield, CA5.5%
49Tampa, FL5.4%
50Miami, FL5.2%
50Orlando, FL5.2%
50Cincinnati, OH5.2%
50Indianapolis, IN5.2%
54Ogden, UT5.1%
55Detroit, MI4.9%
55Salt Lake City, UT4.9%
57Phoenix, AZ4.8%
58North Port, FL4.5%
58Colorado Springs, CO4.5%
58Toledo, OH4.5%
58Scranton, PA4.5%
62Chicago, IL4.4%
62Provo, UT4.4%
64Los Angeles, CA4.3%
65Providence, RI4.2%
65Spokane, WA4.2%
67San Diego, CA4.1%
67Tucson, AZ4.1%
69Washington, DC4.0%
69Philadelphia, PA4.0%
69Seattle, WA4.0%
69Sacramento, CA4.0%
69Poughkeepsie, NY4.0%
74Minneapolis, MN3.8%
75San Jose, CA3.7%
75Omaha, NE3.7%
77Portland, OR3.6%
77Syracuse, NY3.6%
79Pittsburgh, PA3.5%
79Honolulu, HI3.5%
79Des Moines, IA3.5%
79Deltona, FL3.5%
79Palm Bay, FL3.5%
84San Francisco, CA3.4%
84Baltimore, MD3.4%
84Grand Rapids, MI3.4%
84Allentown, PA3.4%
88Springfield, MA3.3%
89Denver, CO3.2%
89Worcester, MA3.2%
89Bridgeport, CT3.2%
89Albany, NY3.2%
93New York, NY3.1%
94Rochester, NY3.0%
95New Haven, CT2.9%
95Harrisburg, PA2.9%
97Buffalo, NY2.6%
98Oxnard, CA2.5%
99Hartford, CT2.4%
100Boston, MA2.0%

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

RankMetroLate on mortgage payment
1Jackson, MS2.4%
2New Orleans, LA2.1%
3Knoxville, TN1.8%
3Wichita, KS1.8%
5Little Rock, AR1.6%
6San Antonio, TX1.5%
6Tucson, AZ1.5%
6New Haven, CT1.5%
6Allentown, PA1.5%
6Charleston, SC1.5%
6Springfield, MA1.5%
12Memphis, TN1.4%
12Louisville, KY1.4%
12Birmingham, AL1.4%
12Tulsa, OK1.4%
12McAllen, TX1.4%
12El Paso, TX1.4%
12Columbia, SC1.4%
12Winston-Salem, NC1.4%
12Harrisburg, PA1.4%
21Houston, TX1.3%
21Worcester, MA1.3%
21Greensboro, NC1.3%
21Syracuse, NY1.3%
25Baltimore, MD1.2%
25Las Vegas, NV1.2%
25Virginia Beach, VA1.2%
25Hartford, CT1.2%
25Grand Rapids, MI1.2%
25Albuquerque, NM1.2%
25Lakeland, FL1.2%
25Scranton, PA1.2%
33Cincinnati, OH1.1%
33Oklahoma City, OK1.1%
33Bridgeport, CT1.1%
33Baton Rouge, LA1.1%
33Poughkeepsie, NY1.1%
33Augusta, GA1.1%
39Dallas, TX1.0%
39Philadelphia, PA1.0%
39Atlanta, GA1.0%
39Minneapolis, MN1.0%
39Raleigh, NC1.0%
39Cape Coral, FL1.0%
39Madison, WI1.0%
46Chicago, IL0.9%
46Washington, DC0.9%
46St. Louis, MO0.9%
46Charlotte, NC0.9%
46Indianapolis, IN0.9%
46Cleveland, OH0.9%
46Jacksonville, FL0.9%
46Rochester, NY0.9%
46Greenville, SC0.9%
46Colorado Springs, CO0.9%
46Des Moines, IA0.9%
46Durham, NC0.9%
58Tampa, FL0.8%
58Denver, CO0.8%
58Pittsburgh, PA0.8%
58Austin, TX0.8%
58Kansas City, MO0.8%
58Columbus, OH0.8%
58Richmond, VA0.8%
58Buffalo, NY0.8%
58Omaha, NE0.8%
58North Port, FL0.8%
58Akron, OH0.8%
58Deltona, FL0.8%
70Miami, FL0.7%
70Detroit, MI0.7%
70Nashville, TN0.7%
70Honolulu, HI0.7%
70Albany, NY0.7%
70Dayton, OH0.7%
70Provo, UT0.7%
77New York, NY0.6%
77Seattle, WA0.6%
77Orlando, FL0.6%
77Portland, OR0.6%
77Sacramento, CA0.6%
77Providence, RI0.6%
77Boise, ID0.6%
77Spokane, WA0.6%
85Boston, MA0.5%
85Phoenix, AZ0.5%
85Riverside, CA0.5%
85Milwaukee, WI0.5%
85Salt Lake City, UT0.5%
85Fresno, CA0.5%
85Toledo, OH0.5%
92Oxnard, CA0.4%
93Los Angeles, CA0.3%
93San Francisco, CA0.3%
93San Jose, CA0.3%
93Bakersfield, CA0.3%
93Stockton, CA0.3%
98San Diego, CA0.2%
98Ogden, UT0.2%
98Palm Bay, FL0.2%

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

RankMetroLate on student loan payment
1Jackson, MS1.9%
2Bridgeport, CT1.3%
3Indianapolis, IN1.1%
3New Haven, CT1.1%
3Syracuse, NY1.1%
6Akron, OH0.9%
7Columbia, SC0.8%
8Cleveland, OH0.7%
8Grand Rapids, MI0.7%
8Albuquerque, NM0.7%
8Baton Rouge, LA0.7%
12Atlanta, GA0.6%
12Orlando, FL0.6%
12Memphis, TN0.6%
12New Orleans, LA0.6%
12Dayton, OH0.6%
12Colorado Springs, CO0.6%
12Wichita, KS0.6%
12Augusta, GA0.6%
12Spokane, WA0.6%
21New York, NY0.5%
21Chicago, IL0.5%
21Washington, DC0.5%
21Detroit, MI0.5%
21St. Louis, MO0.5%
21San Antonio, TX0.5%
21Cincinnati, OH0.5%
21Kansas City, MO0.5%
21Nashville, TN0.5%
21Oklahoma City, OK0.5%
21Omaha, NE0.5%
21El Paso, TX0.5%
21North Port, FL0.5%
21Greensboro, NC0.5%
21Lakeland, FL0.5%
21Winston-Salem, NC0.5%
21Durham, NC0.5%
21Palm Bay, FL0.5%
39Dallas, TX0.4%
39Houston, TX0.4%
39Philadelphia, PA0.4%
39Boston, MA0.4%
39Minneapolis, MN0.4%
39Tampa, FL0.4%
39Baltimore, MD0.4%
39Charlotte, NC0.4%
39Austin, TX0.4%
39Las Vegas, NV0.4%
39Columbus, OH0.4%
39Virginia Beach, VA0.4%
39Milwaukee, WI0.4%
39Raleigh, NC0.4%
39Louisville, KY0.4%
39Tulsa, OK0.4%
39McAllen, TX0.4%
39Charleston, SC0.4%
39Des Moines, IA0.4%
39Poughkeepsie, NY0.4%
39Harrisburg, PA0.4%
60Miami, FL0.3%
60Phoenix, AZ0.3%
60Seattle, WA0.3%
60Portland, OR0.3%
60Sacramento, CA0.3%
60Jacksonville, FL0.3%
60Buffalo, NY0.3%
60Birmingham, AL0.3%
60Worcester, MA0.3%
60Albany, NY0.3%
60Allentown, PA0.3%
60Oxnard, CA0.3%
60Deltona, FL0.3%
60Toledo, OH0.3%
74Los Angeles, CA0.2%
74San Francisco, CA0.2%
74Denver, CO0.2%
74Pittsburgh, PA0.2%
74San Jose, CA0.2%
74Providence, RI0.2%
74Rochester, NY0.2%
74Tucson, AZ0.2%
74Bakersfield, CA0.2%
74Knoxville, TN0.2%
74Boise, ID0.2%
74Ogden, UT0.2%
74Springfield, MA0.2%
74Provo, UT0.2%
74Scranton, PA0.2%
89Riverside, CA0.1%
89Salt Lake City, UT0.1%
89Hartford, CT0.1%
89Greenville, SC0.1%
89Cape Coral, FL0.1%
94San Diego, CA0.0%
94Richmond, VA0.0%
94Honolulu, HI0.0%
94Fresno, CA0.0%
94Stockton, CA0.0%
94Little Rock, AR0.0%
94Madison, WI0.0%

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

RankMetroLate on other payment
1McAllen, TX45.3%
2Baton Rouge, LA36.2%
3El Paso, TX35.7%
4San Antonio, TX35.2%
4Greenville, SC35.2%
6Columbia, SC34.7%
7Augusta, GA33.6%
8Memphis, TN32.6%
9New Orleans, LA31.9%
10Greensboro, NC31.3%
11Jackson, MS31.2%
12Winston-Salem, NC31.1%
13Houston, TX30.7%
14Dallas, TX30.6%
15Birmingham, AL29.9%
16Lakeland, FL29.5%
17Jacksonville, FL29.4%
18Little Rock, AR29.0%
19Charleston, SC28.8%
20Tulsa, OK28.1%
21Virginia Beach, VA27.6%
22Dayton, OH27.2%
23Las Vegas, NV27.1%
24Atlanta, GA26.7%
24Oklahoma City, OK26.7%
26Louisville, KY26.3%
27Wichita, KS26.1%
28Knoxville, TN25.6%
29Austin, TX25.5%
29Fresno, CA25.5%
31Orlando, FL25.4%
31Toledo, OH25.4%
33Bakersfield, CA25.0%
34Cleveland, OH24.6%
34Raleigh, NC24.6%
36Cincinnati, OH24.1%
37Tampa, FL23.8%
38Albuquerque, NM23.6%
39Akron, OH23.4%
40Kansas City, MO23.2%
41St. Louis, MO22.7%
42Columbus, OH22.4%
43Richmond, VA22.1%
44Deltona, FL22.0%
45Durham, NC21.6%
46Scranton, PA21.5%
47Riverside, CA21.3%
48Indianapolis, IN21.1%
49Charlotte, NC21.0%
50Nashville, TN20.8%
50Cape Coral, FL20.8%
52Detroit, MI20.5%
53Grand Rapids, MI20.3%
54Miami, FL20.2%
54Phoenix, AZ20.2%
54North Port, FL20.2%
57Milwaukee, WI19.9%
58Palm Bay, FL19.6%
59Philadelphia, PA19.2%
60Stockton, CA19.1%
60Ogden, UT19.1%
62Salt Lake City, UT18.9%
62Tucson, AZ18.9%
64Allentown, PA18.8%
64Harrisburg, PA18.8%
66New Haven, CT18.7%
67Chicago, IL18.2%
68Baltimore, MD17.4%
69Spokane, WA17.3%
70Colorado Springs, CO17.2%
71Albany, NY16.8%
72Sacramento, CA16.7%
73Los Angeles, CA16.6%
73Syracuse, NY16.6%
75Boise, ID16.5%
76Providence, RI16.4%
76Poughkeepsie, NY16.4%
78Rochester, NY16.3%
79Pittsburgh, PA16.1%
79Buffalo, NY16.1%
79Springfield, MA16.1%
82San Diego, CA16.0%
83Denver, CO15.8%
84Bridgeport, CT15.4%
85Omaha, NE15.0%
86Washington, DC14.8%
87New York, NY14.7%
88Seattle, WA14.6%
89Hartford, CT14.4%
90Des Moines, IA13.9%
91Portland, OR13.3%
92Oxnard, CA13.1%
93Madison, WI12.9%
94San Jose, CA12.8%
94Worcester, MA12.8%
96Boston, MA12.3%
96Provo, UT12.3%
98San Francisco, CA12.2%
99Minneapolis, MN12.1%
100Honolulu, HI9.9%

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.

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

GenerationLate on at least 1 accountLate on 3 or more accountsSerious delinquency (late at least 90 days)Any account in collections
Baby boomer20.3%2.9%18.6%17.9%
Gen X30.2%5.9%27.9%27.0%
Millennial36.7%7.4%34.1%33.0%
Gen Z36.2%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.

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.”

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)

 

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