Household debt levels in the United States have nearly returned to where they were before the recession -- meaning more people have saved for down payments and more are qualifying for loans. A home purchase, a rite of passage in America, is frequently the largest source of debt among U.S. households. Despite skyrocketing student debt levels in recent years, mortgages remain the largest household debt source, representing 68% of all debt in the country.
For Americans with a home loan, the average mortgage debt is $196,000. Depending largely on income levels, average mortgage debt varies considerably between states. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average mortgage debt in each state using data from Experian, one of the three national consumer reporting agencies.
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The states with the highest mortgage debt levels, while home to more affluent families, also tend to have lower homeownership rates. This suggests lower access to mortgages and less affordable housing markets. By contrast, the states with the lowest mortgage debt levels, while often the same states with among the lowest household incomes, are generally home to more affordable housing markets.
Not only is the likelihood of owning a home higher in states with lower mortgage debt, but larger shares of homeowners in these states own their homes outright. Of the 25 states with below-average mortgage debt levels, all but three have above-average shares of owner-occupied homes without a mortgage.
To determine the states with the most mortgage debt, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed average mortgage debt in each state from the 2016 State of Credit Report published by Experian, a consumer reporting agency. Figures for median home value, median household income, homeownership rates, and the share of owner-occupied households with a mortgage come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Consumer Survey.
50. West Virginia
> Average mortgage debt: $113,436
> Median home value: $112,100 (the lowest)
> Median household income: $42,019 (3rd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 72.3% (the highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 46.5% (the lowest)
49. Mississippi
> Average mortgage debt: $117,587
> Median home value: $112,700 (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $40,593 (the lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.4% (18th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 49.5% (2nd lowest)
48. Indiana
> Average mortgage debt: $119,651
> Median home value: $131,000 (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $50,532 (16th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.2% (tied-12th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 66.3% (14th highest)
47. Arkansas
> Average mortgage debt: $123,495
> Median home value: $120,700 (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $41,995 (2nd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.2% (20th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 54.8% (5th lowest)
46. Kentucky
> Average mortgage debt: $123,546
> Median home value: $130,000 (5th lowest)
> Median household income: $45,215 (5th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.3% (22nd highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 57.9% (12th lowest)
45. Ohio
> Average mortgage debt: $126,746
> Median home value: $136,400 (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,075 (17th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.4% (23rd lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 63.7% (25th highest)
44. Iowa
> Average mortgage debt: $127,495
> Median home value: $136,100 (8th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,736 (25th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.7% (tied-6th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 59.8% (17th lowest)
43. Oklahoma
> Average mortgage debt: $127,819
> Median home value: $126,800 (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $48,568 (12th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.3% (tied-21st lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 55.6% (7th lowest)
42. Michigan
> Average mortgage debt: $132,336
> Median home value: $137,500 (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,084 (18th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.4% (8th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 60.7% (20th lowest)
41. Nebraska
> Average mortgage debt: $132,933
> Median home value: $141,600 (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,996 (24th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.9% (tied-25th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 61.7% (21st lowest)
40. Missouri
> Average mortgage debt: $134,760
> Median home value: $147,800 (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $50,238 (15th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.1% (24th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 62.3% (24th lowest)
39. Kansas
> Average mortgage debt: $135,508
> Median home value: $141,200 (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $53,906 (24th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.4% (21st highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 60.2% (18th lowest)
38. Alabama
> Average mortgage debt: $138,154
> Median home value: $134,100 (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $44,765 (4th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.9% (16th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 56.8% (10th lowest)
37. Wisconsin
> Average mortgage debt: $141,403
> Median home value: $168,300 (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $55,638 (23rd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.8% (19th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 64.8% (21st highest)
36. Tennessee
> Average mortgage debt: $145,027
> Median home value: $150,600 (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $47,275 (9th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.8% (24th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 59.6% (16th lowest)
35. Maine
> Average mortgage debt: $145,243
> Median home value: $180,300 (tied-24th highest)
> Median household income: $51,494 (21st lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 71.0% (2nd highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 62.2% (23rd lowest)
34. Louisiana
> Average mortgage debt: $145,330
> Median home value: $155,600 (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $45,727 (7th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 64.6% (18th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 52.4% (4th lowest)
33. South Dakota
> Average mortgage debt: $147,990
> Median home value: $152,800 (17th lowest)
> Median household income: $53,017 (23rd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.2% (tied-12th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 54.9% (6th lowest)
32. Vermont
> Average mortgage debt: $148,136
> Median home value: $223,700 (17th highest)
> Median household income: $56,990 (20th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.7% (tied-6th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 62.9% (25th lowest)
31. North Dakota
> Average mortgage debt: $152,039
> Median home value: $180,900 (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $60,557 (16th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.7% (tied-8th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 52.3% (3rd lowest)
30. South Carolina
> Average mortgage debt: $156,150
> Median home value: $148,600 (14th lowest)
> Median household income: $47,238 (8th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.1% (14th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 58.7% (15th lowest)
29. New Mexico
> Average mortgage debt: $157,280
> Median home value: $164,100 (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $45,382 (6th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 67.5% (17th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 55.9% (8th lowest)
28. Pennsylvania
> Average mortgage debt: $157,643
> Median home value: $170,600 (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $55,702 (21st highest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.7% (11th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 60.6% (19th lowest)
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27. Idaho
> Average mortgage debt: $158,953
> Median home value: $176,300 (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $48,275 (11th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 69.0% (9th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 65.3% (19th highest)
26. Texas
> Average mortgage debt: $159,195
> Median home value: $152,000 (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $55,653 (22nd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.1% (tied-6th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 58.0% (13th lowest)
25. North Carolina
> Average mortgage debt: $161,893
> Median home value: $160,100 (20th lowest)
> Median household income: $47,830 (10th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.9% (tied-16th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 63.8% (24th highest)
24. Georgia
> Average mortgage debt: $165,466
> Median home value: $159,300 (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,244 (19th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.8% (10th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 66.2% (15th highest)
23. Montana
> Average mortgage debt: $170,113
> Median home value: $209,500 (20th highest)
> Median household income: $49,509 (14th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.7% (20th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 56.7% (9th lowest)
22. Minnesota
> Average mortgage debt: $172,130
> Median home value: $200,000 (21st highest)
> Median household income: $63,488 (12th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.9% (tied-3rd highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 66.4% (13th highest)
21. Illinois
> Average mortgage debt: $176,282
> Median home value: $180,300 (tied-24th highest)
> Median household income: $59,588 (18th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.3% (tied-21st lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 64.3% (22nd highest)
20. Florida
> Average mortgage debt: $177,932
> Median home value: $179,800 (25th lowest)
> Median household income: $49,426 (13th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.8% (15th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 57.1% (11th lowest)
19. Wyoming
> Average mortgage debt: $180,207
> Median home value: $212,500 (19th highest)
> Median household income: $60,214 (17th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.0% (15th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 58.3% (14th lowest)
18. New Hampshire
> Average mortgage debt: $180,223
> Median home value: $244,500 (13th highest)
> Median household income: $70,303 (7th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.9% (tied-3rd highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 67.0% (12th highest)
17. Delaware
> Average mortgage debt: $189,962
> Median home value: $240,200 (15th highest)
> Median household income: $61,255 (14th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 70.8% (5th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 65.4% (18th highest)
16. Rhode Island
> Average mortgage debt: $191,558
> Median home value: $241,000 (14th highest)
> Median household income: $58,073 (19th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 59.0% (5th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 69.3% (7th highest)
15. Arizona
> Average mortgage debt: $194,853
> Median home value: $194,300 (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $51,492 (20th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.9% (11th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 64.2% (23rd highest)
14. Utah
> Average mortgage debt: $196,344
> Median home value: $234,600 (16th highest)
> Median household income: $62,912 (13th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 68.9% (10th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 70.4% (4th highest)
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13. Nevada
> Average mortgage debt: $210,673
> Median home value: $221,400 (18th highest)
> Median household income: $52,431 (22nd lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 54.0% (3rd lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 68.2% (10th highest)
12. Oregon
> Average mortgage debt: $210,956
> Median home value: $264,100 (10th highest)
> Median household income: $54,148 (25th lowest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.1% (tied-6th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 66.0% (16th highest)
11. Alaska
> Average mortgage debt: $217,960
> Median home value: $259,600 (11th highest)
> Median household income: $73,355 (3rd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.9% (tied-16th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 65.1% (20th highest)
10. Colorado
> Average mortgage debt: $230,142
> Median home value: $283,800 (8th highest)
> Median household income: $63,909 (11th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.7% (14th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 72.1% (2nd highest)
9. Connecticut
> Average mortgage debt: $232,494
> Median home value: $270,900 (9th highest)
> Median household income: $71,346 (5th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 66.2% (23rd highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 69.4% (6th highest)
8. New York
> Average mortgage debt: $234,548
> Median home value: $293,500 (6th highest)
> Median household income: $60,850 (15th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 53.1% (the lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 62.1% (22nd lowest)
7. Washington
> Average mortgage debt: $240,098
> Median home value: $284,000 (7th highest)
> Median household income: $64,129 (10th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 62.4% (12th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 68.7% (9th highest)
6. Virginia
> Average mortgage debt: $242,022
> Median home value: $257,800 (12th highest)
> Median household income: $66,262 (8th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.0% (19th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 69.2% (8th highest)
5. New Jersey
> Average mortgage debt: $242,631
> Median home value: $322,600 (4th highest)
> Median household income: $72,222 (4th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 63.0% (13th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 67.5% (11th highest)
4. Massachusetts
> Average mortgage debt: $246,004
> Median home value: $352,100 (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $70,628 (6th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 61.7% (tied-8th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 70.0% (5th highest)
3. Maryland
> Average mortgage debt: $252,217
> Median home value: $299,800 (5th highest)
> Median household income: $75,847 (the highest)
> Homeownership rate: 65.9% (tied-25th highest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 73.9% (the highest)
2. Hawaii
> Average mortgage debt: $331,180
> Median home value: $566,900 (the highest)
> Median household income: $73,486 (2nd highest)
> Homeownership rate: 56.6% (4th lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 65.8% (17th highest)
1. California
> Average mortgage debt: $336,250
> Median home value: $449,100 (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $64,500 (9th highest)
> Homeownership rate: 53.6% (2nd lowest)
> Homeowners w/ mortgage: 71.2% (3rd highest)
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