Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate products and services to help you make smart decisions with your money.
- The average FICO credit score is 717, and the average VantageScore credit score is 702.
- Minnesota has the highest average FICO credit score, with an average FICO score of 742.
- Mississippi has the lowest average FICO credit score, with an average FICO score of 680.
The average FICO credit score in right now is 717 and the average VantageScore credit score as of March 2024 was 702. However, average credit scores vary widely based on a number of factors, including age, income, immigration status, health, and race.
Average credit scores also vary significantly based on location. The average Minnesota resident has a 742 FICO credit score, the highest average of any state. Meanwhile, the state with the lowest average FICO credit score is Mississippi, at 680.
10 states with the highest average credit score
According to data gathered by Experian, the 10 states with the highest average credit scores in the third quarter of 2023 are as follows:
| States | Average FICO score (2023) |
| 1. Minnesota | 742 |
| 2. Vermont | 737 |
| 3. Wisconsin | 737 |
| 4. New Hampshire | 736 |
| 5. Washington | 735 |
| 6. South Dakota | 734 |
| 7. North Dakota | 733 |
| 8. Hawaii | 732 |
| 9. Massachusetts | 732 |
| 10. Montana | 732 |
| 11. Oregon | 732 |
The highest average VantageScore credit scores as of March 2024 are as follows:
| States | Average VantageScore 4.0 score (2024) |
| 1. Minnesota | 728 |
| 2. New Hampshire | 726 |
| 3. Vermont | 724 |
| 4. Washington | 722 |
| 5. Massachusetts | 721 |
| 6. Wisconsin | 721 |
| 7. South Dakota | 719 |
| 8. Colorado | 719 |
| 9. Hawaii | 720 |
| 10. Montana | 718 |
10 states with the lowest average credit score
Credit scores have improved over the past couple of decades. In 2012, the average FICO credit score was 689 compared to 718 in 2023. Yet some states continue to lag behind the national average. The 10 states with the lowest average credit scores in 2023 are as follows:
| States | Average FICO score (2023) |
| 41. Nevada | 702 |
| 42. New Mexico | 702 |
| 43. South Carolina | 699 |
| 44. Arkansas | 696 |
| 45. Oklahoma | 696 |
| 46. Georgia | 695 |
| 47. Texas | 695 |
| 48. Alabama | 692 |
| 49. Louisiana | 690 |
| 50. Mississippi | 680 |
It's worth noting that of these 10 states, all but one are located in the South, defined by the US Census Bureau. However, even at the bottom of this list, the average resident in all these states would have a "prime" credit score, above 660. Average credit scores were not always what they are today. The average FICO score in October 2005 was 688 and has steadily risen over the past two decades.
You'd also think that the states with the lowest credit scores would have the most debt, though this isn't the case. In fact, Mississippi has the lowest average credit card debt and the second lowest average debt among all states.
The 10 states with the lowest average VantageScore credit scores show a similar pattern, predominantly comprised of southern states.
| States | Average VantageScore 4.0 score (2024) |
| 41. South Carolina | 688 |
| 42. West Virginia | 687 |
| 43. Kentucky | 687 |
| 44. Georgia | 682 |
| 45. Arkansas | 681 |
| 46. Texas | 681 |
| 47. Oklahoma | 681 |
| 48. Alabama | 679 |
| 49. Louisiana | 675 |
| 50. Mississippi | 668 |
How credit scores are categorized
The range of possible credit scores spans from 300 to 850, which FICO categorizes into five levels called risk categories. While lending decisions aren't solely determined by your credit score or which risk category you fall into, these help gauge how likely you are to qualify for a loan or credit card.
The five risk categories and their corresponding ranges are:
| FICO risk category | FICO score range |
| Excellent | 800-850 |
| Very Good | 740-799 |
| Good | 670-739 |
| Fair | 580-669 |
| Poor | 300-579 |
Looking at this spread, the average credit score of 49 states are good credit scores. Minnesota, with a 742 average score, is the only exception, nudging its way into a "very good" average score.
How do you raise your credit score?
Improving your credit score isn't a matter of eliminating negative information from your credit report, but building positive information on top of your negative information.
You should prioritize making payments on your current lines of credit on time and make sure your overall balance isn't too high. If your minimum payments are posing a problem each month, consider consulting with a credit counselor and signing up for a debt management plan.
The best debt management servicescan negotiate a lower interest rate with your creditors or lower your minimum payments in exchange for longer payment periods.
You can also look into credit-building products such as credit builder loans. These will add payment history to your credit reports and accept your application without a credit check. Rent reporting services will also help you build your payment history by reporting any rent payments you make to the credit bureaus, which doesn't automatically happen. You can find our guides on the best credit builder loans and best rent reporting services here.
Keeping tabs on your credit score is a good habit to get into, so you'll know your financial standing in the eyes of creditors at any given point. Until the end of 2023, you can request weekly free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. After 2023, you can request three free credit reports annually, one from each of the credit bureaus.
You can also check your credit scorewith a credit monitoring service. Some of the best credit monitoring services are even free.
Average credit scores by state frequently asked questions
Do you need to have a perfect credit score?
No, you don't need to have a perfect credit score. While a perfect 850 score may seem ideal, those with credit scores above 700 typically qualify for the best interest rates and lending terms. A high score can help you save money in the long run because it shows lenders you are a responsible borrower, so they're more likely to give you the most favorable interest rates.
Why are credit scores worse in the South?
Credit scores being worse in the South is the result of medical debt, according to an analysis from The Washington Post. On average, residents in these states have higher medical debts than residents in other states, which the analysis attributes to whether those states expanded Medicaid. While medical debt has been deprioritized in FICO score calculations and nixed entirely on VantageScore calculations, the financial effect is still significant enough to bring down credit scores in the South.
How long does bad credit last?
Bad credit can last for years. Even though negative credit marks hurt your score less and less as time goes on, missed payments and collections can stay on your report for seven years, while bankruptcy is reported for 10.
What state has the lowest credit score?
Mississippi has the lowest credit score of the US states. It has the lowest average FICO credit score of all states in 2024, at 680 is 35 points below the national average. Mississippi also has the lowest average VantageScore at 668.
What state has the highest average credit score?
Minnesota has the highest average credit score. It has the highest FICO credit score of all states in 2024 at 742, which is 27 points above the national average. Minnesota also has the highest VantageScore in 2024, at 728.
Senior Personal Finance Reporter and Spokesperson
Jennifer is a Senior Personal Finance Reporter and Spokesperson for the Personal Finance vertical at Business Insider. She started her career covering personal finance at Black Enterprise Magazine, went on to CNBC where she covered personal finance, women and money and tech and then Forbes, where she reported on personal finance, business, tech and money matters related to the economy, investing, credit and entrepreneurship. Jennifer is also the author of Thrive!...Affordably: Your Month to Month Guide to living your Best Life without breaking the bank. The book offers advice, tips and financial management lessons geared towards helping the reader highlight strengths, identify missteps and take control of their finances. In addition, she has extensive experience as an on-air financial commentator and has been a featured expert discussing credit and savings, investing and retirement, mortgages and all things money and personal finance. She has an ability to discuss and simplify complex financial issues and make them easier to understand. Follow her on Twitter @jstreaks.
Top Offers From Our Partners
SoFi Checking and Savings Earn up to 4.60% APY on savings balances and up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposit. FDIC Insured. There is no minimum direct deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.60% APY for savings. Members without direct deposit will earn up to 1.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet. To earn the $300 bonus, the customer must complete a direct deposit with a minimum initial deposit of $250 in a new SoFi Checking and Savings account within 45 days of clicking to qualify (offer expires 12/31/24).
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
