With household debt reaching $19.1 trillion in Q3 2026, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its rankings of the States With the Largest & Smallest Debt Increases, based on new data from TransUnion and the Federal Reserve, to highlight where people may be in financial danger.
| Largest Average Household Debt Increase | Smallest Average Household Debt Increase | |
| 1. Hawaii | 41. Indiana | |
| 2. California | 42. Kansas | |
| 3. Utah | 43. Ohio | |
| 4. Washington | 44. Alabama | |
| 5. Colorado | 45. Kentucky | |
| 6. Massachusetts | 46. Arkansas | |
| 7. Maryland | 47. Louisiana | |
| 8. Idaho | 48. Oklahoma | |
| 9. Virginia | 49. West Virginia | |
| 10. Oregon | 50. Mississippi |
For the full report, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/
National Stats
- Q3 Results: Total household debt increased by $166 billion during Q3 2026 compared to the previous quarter. That is 131% more than the increase in Q3 2025.
- Household Average: The average household owed a total of $157,899 at the end of Q3 2026, which is $15,984 below the all-time high.
- Total Debt-to-Deposits Ratio: The ratio of total household debt to deposits indicates consumers are in good shape, as it's still below pre-Covid levels and roughly 49% lower than its early-2000s peak.
- Total Debt-to-Assets: The ratio between total household debt and assets, at 8.7%, continues to be at a very healthy level.
“A big increase in a state’s average household debt can be a sign that residents are struggling financially. For example, inflation may be pushing people to borrow more just to afford necessities. However, residents of some states may be able to handle an increased debt load well, which is why it’s important to also consider delinquency rates to see whether people have enough income and good enough budgeting skills to keep up with higher loan payments.”
- Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst
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