20 Cities With the Lowest Credit Scores

Credit scores and the credit score ranges they fall into matter a lot when it comes to one’s personal finances. A high credit score can mean approval for financial products, while a low one can mean not getting approved — or only being granted credit at high interest rates.

The interesting thing about these scores is that they can also say a lot about the economic trajectory of a certain location. The average credit score a city’s residents holds could be a key indicator of its financial health (even more so when added to data about the average income).

So, which cities are struggling in terms of credit scores in comparison to the national average? LendEdu.com worked with the credit bureau Experian to identify the cities with the lowest credit scores. We also looked at median household income, which was found via the United States Census Bureau. (Overall, median household income in the United States was $55,322, according to 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.)

[FREE Tool: Get a free credit score and find out if there are any errors on your credit report on Upturn Credit!]

Read on to see the 20 cities with the lowest average credit scores in the United States. You can also see which cities scored the highest here.

1. Camden, NJ

• Credit Score: 547
• Percentage below the national average: 19%
• Number of points below the national average: 128
• Median Household Income: $63,028
• Percentage above the national median: 14%

2. Pinon, AZ

• Credit Score: 549
• Percentage below the national average: 19%
• Number of points below the national average: 126
• Median Household Income: $36,319
• Percentage below the national median: 34%

3. Chester, PA

• Credit Score: 552
• Percentage below the national average: 18%
• Number of points below the national average: 123
• Median Household Income: $88,995
• Percentage above the national median: 61%

4. Highland Park, MI

• Credit Score: 552
• Percentage below the national average: 18%
• Number of points below the national average: 123
• Median Household Income: $17,455
• Percentage below the national median: 68%

5. Riverdale, IL

• Credit Score: 558
• Percentage below the national average: 17%
• Number of points below the national average: 117
• Median Household Income: $31,438
• Percentage below the national median: 43%

6. Inkster, MI

• Credit Score: 563
• Percentage below the national average: 17%
• Number of points below the national average: 112
• Median Household Income: $31,285
• Percentage below the national median: 43%

7. East Orange, NJ

• Credit Score: 564
• Percentage below the national average: 16%
• Number of points below the national average: 111
• Median Household Income: $38,403
• Percentage below the national median: 31%

8. Detroit, MI

• Credit Score: 565
• Percentage below the national average: 16%
• Number of points below the national average: 110
• Median Household Income: $26,249
• Percentage below the national median: 53%

9. Irvington, NJ

• Credit Score: 566
• Percentage below the national average: 16%
• Number of points below the national average: 109
• Median Household Income: $37,538
• Percentage below the national median: 32%

10. Harvey, IL

• Credit Score: 566
• Percentage below the national average: 16%
• Number of points below the national average: 109
• Median Household Income: $21,909
• Percentage below the national median: 60%

11. Hartford, CT

• Credit Score: 573
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 102
• Median Household Income: $32,095
• Percentage below the national median: 42%

12. Darby, PA

• Credit Score: 573
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 102
• Median Household Income: $34,199
• Percentage below the national median: 38%

13. Pontiac, MI

• Credit Score: 573
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 102
• Median Household Income: $30,152
• Percentage below the national median: 45%

14. Brooklyn, MD

• Credit Score: 576
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 99
• Median Household Income: $38,771
• Percentage below the national median: 30%

15. Gary, IN

• Credit Score: 576
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 99
• Median Household Income: $28,895
• Percentage below the national median: 48%

16. Orange, NJ

• Credit Score: 577
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 98
• Median Household Income: $35,742
• Percentage below the national median: 35%

17. Belle Glade, FL

• Credit Score: 577
• Percentage below the national average: 15%
• Number of points below the national average: 98
• Median Household Income: $26,637
• Percentage below the national median: 52%

18. New Brunswick, NJ

• Credit Score: 578
• Percentage below the national average: 14%
• Number of points below the national average: 97
• Median Household Income: $40,428
• Percentage below the national median: 27%

19. Union City, GA

• Credit Score: 578
• Percentage below the national average: 14%
• Number of points below the national average: 97
• Median Household Income: $35,229
• Percentage below the national median: 36%

20. Riverdale, GA

• Credit Score: 581
• Percentage below the national average: 14%
• Number of points below the national average: 94
• Median Household Income: $34,713
• Percentage below the national median: 37%

Stay on top of your credit report and credit scores. Here’s what you need to know. 

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