In your financial journey, few metrics hold as much significance as the three critical digits that constitute your credit score. Interestingly, your ZIP code can also play a vital role in shaping your financial landscape.
A recent research initiative by Opportunity Insights, a research organization based at Harvard University, reveals that the location where you were raised significantly influences your financial health and upward mobility throughout your life. This study involved a collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau to examine financial, racial, and geographic data from over 25 million individuals up to the year 2020.
The main takeaway is compelling: “Household financial success is closely connected to the local economy,” states Adam Rust, the director of financial services at the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.
To explore this further, Money conducted an independent analysis of detailed data from more than 12,000 counties nationwide, identifying the regions where Americans experience the highest and lowest credit scores.
On average, the overall credit score across all counties was recorded at 678, which typically falls under the “good” category on a scale ranging from 300 to 850. However, significant disparities in credit scores were discovered across various regions of the U.S., with scores ranging from as high as 769, categorized as “very good,” to lows of 580, which teeter on the brink of “fair” and “poor.”
Let’s delve deeper into these findings.
Discover the Counties with the Highest Average Credit Scores
Among the counties boasting the highest average credit scores, one striking trend emerges: North Dakota consistently leads the pack. Out of the top 10 counties with the highest average credit scores, an impressive seven are situated in North Dakota, and all are located within the northern Midwest region.
Percentage of Residents Delinquent on Bills in the Last 4 Years
3. Hettinger, North Dakota
4. Sheridan, North Dakota
8. Campbell, South Dakota
On a personal level, the history of your on-time payments is the most crucial determinant of your credit score. North Dakotans are notably among the least likely to fall 90 days or more behind on their debt payments. For example, residents in the Peace Garden State’s Slope and Logan counties exhibit the two lowest delinquency rates across the entire United States.
Rust emphasizes the connection between unemployment rates and credit scores, pointing out that individuals typically require a steady income—generally from employment—to fulfill their financial obligations on time.
“In regions like the Dakotas, unemployment rates are among the lowest nationwide,” he explains, attributing this trend to the abundance of job opportunities in sectors such as energy production, manufacturing, and agriculture.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, South Dakota recorded an unemployment rate of just 1.8% in June, the lowest in the nation. North Dakota followed closely with a rate of 2.5%. For comparison, the national unemployment rate was reported at 4.1% during the same month.
Uncovering the Counties with the Lowest Average Credit Scores
The majority of counties with the lowest average credit scores were predominantly found in Southeastern states, highlighting a pattern of financial distress.
Percentage of Residents Delinquent on Bills in the Last 4 Years
2. East Carroll, Louisiana
4. Allendale, South Carolina
6. Claiborne, Mississippi
8. Sunflower, Mississippi
The Southeast’s performance in terms of credit scores was anticipated by Rust, who notes that this region has long grappled with entrenched financial and racial disparities.
“Persistent poverty, wealth inequality, and varying employment rates contribute to a cycle that reinforces these issues over time,” Rust explains. “Thus, it is not surprising to observe a similar trend reflected in credit scores.”
South Dakota uniquely appears on both the lists of counties with the highest and lowest credit scores, indicating its diverse economic landscape.
It is crucial to recognize the underlying racial and ethnic disparities that influence these statistics as well. While both Dakotas comprise approximately 80% white residents, the states are home to nearly 100,000 Native Americans. These individuals often live in segregated communities, with significant populations situated on reservations, facing severe economic challenges and limited access to financial resources, which in turn creates vast disparities among counties.
Faulk, South Dakota, recognized as the highest-rated county for credit scores with an average of 765, is remarkably homogeneous, with about 96% of its population being white. In stark contrast, Shannon County, located entirely within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, has a population that is around 97% Native American and averages a credit score of only 582.
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