Fayetteville Has Some of the Worst Credit Scores in the Country
As the economic world continues to see ebbs and flows, many people are relying on credit to help them get by. But in Fayetteville, that might be harder than most…
As the economic world continues to see ebbs and flows, many people are relying on credit to help them get by. But in Fayetteville, that might be harder than most everywhere else, as the city has some of the worst credit scores in the country, according to one study.
Researchers at WalletHub.com analyzed credit scores across 182 cities in the United States, and found that the median credit score in Fayetteville was 628. That landed our community at 176 out of the 182 cities in the study.
Good credit scores are important for a variety of reasons, including buying a home or a car, or even getting approved to rent an apartment.
"Having a good or excellent credit score opens up so many doors for you," said Cassandra Happe, an analyst with WalletHub. "Not only does it help you get approved for future loans and lines of credit, but it also reduces your interest rate and increases the amount you’re able to borrow. A good credit score can even make you a stronger candidate for employment, help you with renting housing, and make you a more attractive dating partner."
Improving the Worst Credit Scores
Before we get into the rankings, it's important to know that there are a lot of factors at play here. And that it's never too late to do things to improve even the worst credit scores.
WalletHub says these tips are the best for improving your credit scores:
- Always pay your credit accounts on time;
- Keep your credit utilization as low as possible;
- Regularly check your credit reports;
- Avoid opening multiple accounts at once;
- Don't close unused accounts.
So let's get to some of the rankings for the worst credit scores in the country. We'll look at the top three cities, the bottom three cities, and where a couple of our North Carolina counterparts fall for worst credit scores.
The Best Credit Scores
1. South Burlington, Vermont
South Burlington comes in at an incredible average credit score of 736. It's also one of the highest income cities according to WalletHub, coming in at 29th.
2. San Francisco, California
With an average credit score of 277, San Francisco lands high on the list. It helps that the average income is $107,500 and that it's a financial hub city.
3. Huntington Beach, California
Another high-income city, Huntington Beach averages at 722 also. The city ranks highly in money management, according to WalletHub.
The Worst Credit Scores
182 - Detroit, Michigan
Detroit comes in at the bottom of the list, with a credit score average of 611. A distant gap even above the next worst. The automotive center of the United States fell on hard times during the recession, and during COVID. Rebounding will take a while, but the city has done a lot to reinvent itself.
181 - Shreveport, Lousiana
With a score of 621, this economically-depressed city in Louisiana has struggled in a lot of ways. With a dismal low average in things like credit-card debt, mortgage-debt-to-income-ratio, and more, it's been a tough go of it.
180 - Jackson, Mississippi
There are actual three cities tied with scores of 624 - Jackson; Newark, New Jersey; and Lewiston, Maine. There are a lot of differences in those three cities, but the one thing they share in common is economic downturn struggles.
North Carolina Credit Score Rankings
62 - Raleigh
The highest-ranked city in North Carolina on the list is Raleigh, with an average credit score of 680.
100. Charlotte
The Queen City is just a few points behind Raleigh, with an average credit score of 667. Surprising considering how much of the banking industry is centered in Charlotte.
Other NC Cities
74 - Durham, 677
114 - Winston-Salem, 662
149 - Greensboro, 647
176 - Fayetteville, 628
