---
title: 13 States Where People Have the Best Credit
description: The majority of Americans have subprime or lower credit, but in some states, the average borrower is in much better shape.
---

[Blog ](https://credit.com/blog)

# [13 States Where People Have the Best Credit](https://credit.com/blog/13-states-where-people-have-the-best-credit-115270)

 Written by [Christine DiGangi](https://credit.com/blog/author/christine-digangi) | Apr 30, 2015 4:01:03 AM

[Good credit](http://www.credit.com/credit-scores/what-is-a-good-credit-score/) is synonymous with opportunity: It allows you greater access to things like apartments, auto loans and mortgages, not to mention more affordable interest rates on credit products. Unfortunately, the majority of U.S. consumers have what's called a [subprime credit score](http://www.credit.com/credit-scores/what-is-a-bad-credit-score/), meaning their [credit history](http://www.credit.com/credit-reports/tips-for-improving-your-credit-payment-history/) makes it difficult or impossible to get some services or receive low interest rates on financing.

In fact, only in 13 states do the majority of consumers have near prime, prime or super prime credit, according to TransUnion TransRisk Score data from the third quarter of 2014. The TransRisk Score assesses consumers using a scale of 150 to 934, with anything below 700 considered subprime. Nationwide, 55.6% of consumers had subprime credit in Q3 of 2014, and Mississippi had the most consumers with poor or bad credit: 69.2% fell into the subprime or lower category, according to an illustration from the [Assets & Opportunity Scorecard](http://scorecard.assetsandopportunity.org/latest/measure/consumers-with-subprime-credit) produced by the Corporation for Enterprise Development.

While most states are dominated by subprime borrowers, that's not the case everywhere. Here are the 13 states where consumers with near prime, prime and superprime credit (scores of 700 and above on the 150 to 934 TransRisk Score scale) make up the majority of consumers with credit scores:

**13. (tie) Connecticut**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 51.3%  
 Average credit card debt: $14,147  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 3.25%

**New Hampshire**  
 Percentage of consumers with near prime or better credit: 51.3%  
 Average credit card debt per borrower: $11,269  
 Percentage of borrowers 90+ days past due on any debt: 2.62%

**11. Washington**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 51.5%  
 Average credit card debt: $11,670  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.52%

**10. Wisconsin**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 51.6%  
 Average credit card debt: $7,420  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.54%

**9. Montana**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 52.5%  
 Average credit card debt: $7,722  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.54%

**8. Massachusetts**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 53.2%  
 Average credit card debt: $12,151  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.69%

**7. Hawaii**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 53.6%  
 Average credit card debt: $12,673  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.4%

**6. Nebraska**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 53.7%  
 Average credit card debt: $6,424  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.26%

**5. Iowa**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 53.9%  
 Average credit card debt: $5,887  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.78%

**4. Vermont**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 54.2%  
 Average credit card debt: $9,822  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.62%

**3. South Dakota**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 55%  
 Average credit card debt: $6,630  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.43%

**2. Minnesota**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 57.1%  
 Average credit card debt: $9,277  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.47%

**1. North Dakota**  
 Consumers with near prime or better credit: 57.2%  
 Average credit card debt: $6,005  
 Borrowers 90+ days past due: 2.11%

Payment history and [debt amount](http://www.credit.com/credit-reports/tips-for-improving-your-credit-your-amount-of-debt/) are two of the most influential factors that determine credit scores, which is why we included some related data in these state rankings. Keep in mind that the debt amount factor includes how much of your available credit you use, not just how high your balances are. Even if you have little debt, if you have little available credit on your credit cards, your credit score may suffer. To see how your payment history, debt amount and other behaviors affect your credit standing, you can check out your [free credit report summary](https://www.credit.com/free-credit-report-card/) on Credit.com.

### More on Credit Scores:

- [What’s a Good Credit Score?](http://www.credit.com/credit-scores/what-is-a-good-credit-score/)
- [What’s a Bad Credit Score?](http://www.credit.com/credit-scores/what-is-a-bad-credit-score/)
- [How Credit Impacts Your Day-to-Day Life](http://www.credit.com/credit-reports/how-credit-impacts-your-day-to-day-life/)

*Image: iStock*

[View full post](https://credit.com/blog/13-states-where-people-have-the-best-credit-115270)

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