What’s the Average Credit Score in Each State? | Equifax (2024)

FAQs

What’s the Average Credit Score in Each State? | Equifax? ›

A score of 750 puts you in a strong position. Roughly 48% of Americans had a score of 750 or above as of April 2023, according to credit scoring company FICO.

A score of 750 puts you in a strong position. Roughly 48% of Americans had a score of 750 or above as of April 2023, according to credit scoring company FICO.

Membership in the 800+ credit score club is quite exclusive, with fewer than 1 in 6 people boasting a score that high, according to WalletHub data.

Highlights: While older models of credit scores used to go as high as 900, you can no longer achieve a 900 credit score. The highest score you can receive today is 850. Anything above 800 is considered an excellent credit score.

A 740 FICO^® Score is above the average credit score. Borrowers with scores in the Very Good range typically qualify for lenders' better interest rates and product offers. 25% of all consumers have FICO^® Scores in the Very Good range.

A 750 credit score is Very Good, but it can be even better. If you can elevate your score into the Exceptional range (800-850), you could become eligible for the very best lending terms, including the lowest interest rates and fees, and the most enticing credit-card rewards programs.

Some types of mortgages have specific minimum credit score requirements. A conventional loan requires a credit score of at least 620, but it's ideal to have a score of 740 or above, which could allow you to make a lower down payment, get a more attractive interest rate and save on private mortgage insurance.

Buying a car with an 800 credit score

But just like with mortgages, having an excellent credit score like 800 should qualify you for the best rates a lender can offer, assuming your income and debt situation is acceptable.

Can I buy a house with a 735 credit score? ›

Conforming mortgages (conventional loans that meet the standards of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) require a score of 620, while FHA mortgages with low down payments require a 580. Your score puts you comfortably over both thresholds.

FHA loan. FHA loans are generally intended for home buyers with lower credit, starting at 580. So they're likely not best for someone with a 700 credit score. With a 700 score, you're likely to qualify for a conventional loan with cheaper mortgage insurance and an even smaller down payment.

However, with a 723 credit score, you should qualify for rates on-par with national averages. Also, even though your score qualifies you for a mortgage, it's important to know that the lower your score is, the stronger the rest of your qualifications are generally expected to be.

A bad credit score is a FICO score below 580, meaning it falls in the poor credit range. Along the same lines, a bad score in the VantageScore model is one below 601, which would belong in the poor or very poor credit ranges.

Well, there are several credit score ranges. For instance, 780–850 may be considered "excellent" while 720–780 may be seen as "good." But when it comes to a range that may be seen as bad, a score between 300 (the lowest) and 660 fits into the “poor” category.

In the U.S., only about 1.7 percent of the scorable population had a perfect 850 FICO credit score in April 2023, according to FICO data. This suggests that for most people, a perfect score is simply too hard to reach — but it also suggests that it's not really necessary, either.

Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 300 FICO^® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.

States with the lowest credit scores

Mississippi holds the lowest average credit score at 680, which is 5% below the national average of 715. Rounding out the bottom five states are Louisiana (690), Alabama, (692), Texas (695), and Georgia (695).