These 25 counties have the most debt in collections in the US
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock
These 25 counties have the most debt in collections in the US
Close up of a person’s hand using calculator and writing a note.
Household debt reached a record $17.29 trillion in the third quarter of 2023, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
Excluding housing debt, the total was $4.8 trillion, up 6.4% from the same period a year earlier. Delinquencies of over 90 days have been rising steadily since 2021, although they are still at low levels by historical standards.
Data from the think tank Urban Institute details where the people most likely to miss their debt payments live. Their data shows that excluding mortgages, 26% of American adults were significantly late on their debt payments in February 2022. The median debt in collections totaled $1,739, with unpaid medical bills being the most common.
The Urban Institute’s data shows that non-white households tend to have much higher rates of default than white households and that households in less affluent counties tend to have higher debt default rates than wealthier ones.
Based on the think tank’s data, we estimate that a household living in a predominantly white county with an income of $150,000 has roughly a 13% chance of being seriously delinquent in its debt payments. In comparison, a household living in a predominantly non-white county with an income of $50,000 has a 47% chance of having debt in collections.
Academic research from the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2019—using more granular data and sophisticated statistical techniques—found other factors, such as a borrower’s credit history and total loan balances, matter a great deal, too.
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The regions with the most debt
A county-level map of the United States showing where people were the most likely to have debt in collections in February 2022. Counties in the South, as well as near the Appalachian mountains, had especially high consumer default rates.
Plotting the debt data on a map reveals some striking geographic trends. Counties in the South and the Appalachian mountains tended to have very high delinquency rates. In contrast, counties in the Great Plains region north of Oklahoma, the northwest, and New England were likelier to have far lower debt delinquency rates.
Duval County, Texas, in the southern part of the state, had the highest delinquency rate—64% of its adult residents had defaulted on their debt payments in February 2022. Meanwhile, only 2% of Boyd County, Nebraska, residents had debt in collections.
Research, including a 2019 study published by the American Journal of Public Health, has found medical debt is a major contributor to personal bankruptcies. The problem is especially acute for the uninsured, who can face far bigger medical bills. Many states, particularly in the South, chose to not expand Medicaid, health coverage for low-income Americans, after the Affordable Care Act passed. Texas, for instance, has the highest share of people without health insurance at 16.6%.
Debt delinquencies for young adults tended to be rarer. The Urban Institute estimates that only 20% of Americans aged 18 to 24 had debt in collections in February 2022. This, however, could change soon. In June 2023, Congress announced it would end the student loan pause, meaning from Sept. 1 last year, 28 million predominantly young borrowers have had or will have to start making interest payments.
More worryingly, the share of credit card bills becoming at least 90 days late hit 5.8% in the third quarter of 2023, its highest level since 2011. The Urban Institute’s data could look much less rosy in a year’s time.
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
#25. Greene County, North Carolina
Snow Hill town seen on a map.
– 53.7% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,639.50
– 43.82% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 11.32% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 8.42% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 7.49% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
tjewell041810 // Shutterstock
#24. Lenoir County, North Carolina
Old barn in rural Kinston, North Carolina.
– 53.9% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,540.50
– 43.84% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 14.58% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 7.02% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 6.29% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Lea Bouknight // Shutterstock
#23. Frio County, Texas
Texas flag against snowy landscape background.
– 53.9% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,517.50
– 23.25% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 12.86% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 9.81% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 3.65% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Arthur Bullock // Shutterstock
#22. Lake County, Tennessee
Reelfoot Lake near Tiptonville.
– 54.1% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,719.50
– 27.67% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 5.36% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– Data on credit card debt are unavailable
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#21. Pemiscot County, Missouri
The Pemiscot County Courthouse.
– 54.2% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,109
– 37.3% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 10.3% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 5.14% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#20. Stewart County, Georgia
The Stewart County Courthouse.
– 54.2% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,795
– 26.14% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 12.5% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 4.29% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Justin Wilkens // Shutterstock
#19. Sharkey County, Mississippi
Bridge over Yazoo River.
– 54.4% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,020.50
– 30.4% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– Data on car/retail loans are unavailable
– 7.69% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Canva
#18. Phillips County, Arkansas
Phillips County Courthouse.
– 54.4% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,082.50
– 25.44% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 22.06% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 10.2% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 7.61% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Bonita R. Cheshier // Shutterstock
#17. Chicot County, Arkansas
Engraved bell sits outside Lakeport Plantation near Lake Village, Arkansas.
– 54.6% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,945.50
– 32.21% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 24% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 11.19% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 6.52% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock
#16. Dillon County, South Carolina
Highway road with cars and trucks in traffic and a sign for South of the Border.
– 54.6% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,605
– 32.08% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 13.53% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 10.95% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 6.93% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
xradiophotog // Shutterstock
#15. Pecos County, Texas
Pecos County Courthouse.
– 55.1% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,174.50
– 41.65% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 7.77% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 6.8% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Dan and Ruth Photography // Shuttterstock
#14. Scotland County, North Carolina
Three brown outdoor wooden crosses at a church in Laurinburg, North Carolina.
– 55.5% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,671
– 37.07% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 13.87% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 10.45% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 5.48% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
J K Laws // Shutterstock
#13. Anson County, North Carolina
An old covered bridge at the Gaddy Wild Goose refuge in Wadesboro.
– 55.7% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,910
– 42.76% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 9.76% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 7.12% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 8.25% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Beach Creatives // Shutterstock
#12. Franklin, Virginia
A view of an abandoned farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
– 56% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,340
– 35.6% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 9.76% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 7.27% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
The American Explorer // Shutterstock
#11. Mingo County, West Virginia
An abandoned coal preparation plant and two concrete silos.
– 56.3% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,511
– 31.74% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 13.56% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 5.96% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 8.2% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Brian Nolan // Shutterstock
#10. Marion County, South Carolina
Rosewood Manor in Marion, South Carolina.
– 57.6% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,884
– 31.75% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 13.41% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 10.43% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 8.5% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#9. Jim Wells County, Texas
The Jim Wells County Courthouse.
– 57.7% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,742
– 33% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 8.38% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 8.94% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 6.77% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Katherine Welles // Shutterstock
#8. Lee County, South Carolina
A welcome sign at the South Carolina state line.
– 57.7% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,708
– 29.38% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 27.78% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 12.06% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 11.73% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#7. Zapata County, Texas
The Zapata County Courthouse.
– 58.8% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,173
– 26.56% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 9.15% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 9.3% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#6. Jim Hogg County, Texas
Jim Hogg County courthouse on a sunny day.
– 59.9% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,489
– 35.21% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 10% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– Data on credit card debt are unavailable
Canva
#5. Zavala County, Texas
Zavala County courthouse.
– 60.3% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,434.50
– 18.03% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 13.82% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 5.32% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Wilma Engelhardt Ellis // Shutterstock
#4. Marlboro County, South Carolina
Dock sitting over lake on a sunny day.
– 60.9% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $1,784
– 37.14% of residents have medical debt in collections
– 11.4% of residents have missed student loan debt in default
– 15.24% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 6.51% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#3. Brooks County, Texas
The Brooks County Courthouse.
– 61.2% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,441.50
– 32.33% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 13.33% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 3.8% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Bennekom // Shutterstock
#2. Allendale County, South Carolina
Street view of a road in Allendale.
– 62.5% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,606
– 29.03% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 8.99% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 8.11% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Roberto Galan // Shutterstock
#1. Duval County, Texas
The Duval County Courthouse.
– 64.1% of residents have debt in collections
— owing a median amount of $2,334
– 33.33% of residents have medical debt in collections
– Data on student loans is unavailable
– 11.7% of residents are at least 60 days delinquent on their car/retail loans
– 2.44% of residents are delinquent on their credit card payments
Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
