State of US Household Debt 2026
Original research by CalcHubb Financial Team — sourced from Federal Reserve, New York Fed, CFPB & Dept. of Education
Key Findings
What the data shows
Total US household debt surpasses $17 trillion for the first time
Driven by sustained mortgage originations and record student loan balances.
Source: Federal Reserve Financial Accounts, Q4 2025
Mortgages account for 71% of all household debt
Despite rising rates, home prices in coastal metros have kept mortgage balances elevated.
Source: New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report
Student loan delinquency rates inch upward
With repayment resuming post-moratorium, 90+ day delinquency rates hit 2.8% nationally.
Source: Department of Education, FSA Data
Credit card debt crosses $1.4 trillion — highest on record
Revolving credit usage grew 8.2% YoY as consumers lean on cards amid persistent inflation.
Source: Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit Report
California and Texas account for 29% of national household debt
High population states dominate absolute totals, but per-capita debt is highest in the Northeast.
Source: Census Bureau, Fed Household Debt Data
Breakdown
Household Debt by Category
Geographic Analysis
Debt by State
Top 10 states by total household debt, plus the five states with the lowest debt burden.
Top 10 States by Total Debt
| Rank | State | Total Debt | Per Capita | 90+ Day Delinquency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $2.80T | $72,000 | 2.1% |
| 2 | Texas | $2.20T | $74,000 | 2.3% |
| 3 | New York | $1.90T | $98,000 | 2% |
| 4 | Florida | $1.70T | $77,000 | 2.4% |
| 5 | Illinois | $1.10T | $86,000 | 2.2% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $980B | $77,000 | 1.9% |
| 7 | Ohio | $890B | $76,000 | 2% |
| 8 | Georgia | $850B | $78,000 | 2.5% |
| 9 | North Carolina | $820B | $78,000 | 2.1% |
| 10 | Michigan | $760B | $76,000 | 2% |
States With Lowest Debt Burden
| Rank | State | Total Debt | Per Capita | 90+ Day Delinquency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Iowa | $180B | $57,000 | 1.4% |
| 47 | Vermont | $42B | $67,000 | 1.3% |
| 48 | Wyoming | $38B | $66,000 | 1.2% |
| 49 | Alaska | $52B | $71,000 | 1.5% |
| 50 | North Dakota | $48B | $63,000 | 1.1% |
Longitudinal View
Historical Debt Trends
US household debt growth from 2020 to 2026, segmented by major category.
Methodology
How we built this report
Data sourced from the Federal Reserve Financial Accounts (Z.1), the New York Fed's Household Debt and Credit Report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Quarterly Consumer Credit Card Market Report, and the Department of Education Federal Student Aid data. State-level estimates are calculated using Census Bureau population data applied to national per-capita debt ratios. All figures are approximations based on publicly available data as of Q4 2025.
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