10 Cities With the Most (and Least) Personal Debt
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Who's Flunking Debt?
MensHealth.com takes a look at foreclosure rates, housing costs, bankruptcy filings, credit scores, levels of credit debt and credit usage in 100 American cities to see where debt is dominating residential households the most -- and the least.
Click through our gallery as we count down from No. 10 to No. 1 in two overall categories: cities where the residents have the most and least personal debt.
First Up: 10 With Most Personal DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 10: Phoenix, Ariz.
Overall Rank: 91
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 25
Housing Costs: 24
Bankruptcy: 78
Credit Score: 29
Credit Debt: 9
Credit Usage: 14
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 9 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Jason Kirk, Getty Images
No. 9: Modesto, Calif.
Overall Rank: 92
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 1
Housing Costs: 30
Bankruptcy: 71
Credit Score: 52
Credit Debt: 8
Credit Usage: 27
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 8 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 8: Denver, Colo.
Overall Rank: 93
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 8
Housing Costs: 22
Bankruptcy: 46
Credit Score: 58
Credit Debt: 24
Credit Usage: 33
For the overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 7 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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David McNew, Getty Images
No. 7: Riverside, Calif.
Overall Rank: 94
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 4
Housing Costs: 3
Bankruptcy: 83
Credit Score: 38
Credit Debt: 13
Credit Usage: 39
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 6 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 6: Jacksonville, Fla.
Overall Rank: 95
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 16
Housing Costs: 59
Bankruptcy: 36
Credit Score: 23
Credit Debt: 30
Credit Usage: 13
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 5 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Carlos Osorio, AP
No. 5: Detroit, Mich.
Overall Rank: 96
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 2
Housing Costs: 8
Bankruptcy: 3
Credit Score: 45
Credit Debt: 59
Credit Usage: 56
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 4 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 4: Sacramento, Calif.
Overall Rank: 97
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 5
Housing Costs: 11
Bankruptcy: 61
Credit Score: 52
Credit Debt: 8
Credit Usage: 27
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 3 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Barry Williams, Getty Images
No. 3: Atlanta, Ga.
Overall Rank: 98
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 6
Housing Costs: 13
Bankruptcy: 18
Credit Score: 26
Credit Debt: 52
Credit Usage: 42
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 2 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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David Zalubowski, AP
No. 2: Aurora, Colo.
Overall Rank: 99
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 8
Housing Costs: 14
Bankruptcy: 27
Credit Score: 58
Credit Debt: 24
Credit Usage: 33
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 1 With Most DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 1: Las Vegas, Nev.
Overall Rank: 100
GRADE = F
By Category:
Foreclosure: 3
Housing Costs: 31
Bankruptcy: 30
Credit Score: 12
Credit Debt: 10
Credit Usage: 11
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: 10 Cities With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Greater Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau
No. 10: Wichita, Kan.
Overall Rank: 10
GRADE = A-
By Category:
Foreclosure: 84
Housing Costs: 84
Bankruptcy: 22
Credit Score: 64
Credit Debt: 93
Credit Usage: 77
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 9 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 9: Yonkers, N.Y.
Overall Rank: 9
GRADE = A-
By Category:
Foreclosure: 79
Housing Costs: 33
Bankruptcy: 100
Credit Score: 74
Credit Debt: 40
Credit Usage: 99
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 8 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce
No. 8: Bangor, Maine
Overall Rank: 8
GRADE = A-
By Category:
Foreclosure: 94
Housing Costs: 94
Bankruptcy: 89
Credit Score: 67
Credit Debt: 45
Credit Usage: 42
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 7 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Scott Olson, Getty Images
No. 7: Charleston, W.Va.
Overall Rank: 7
GRADE = A
By Category:
Foreclosure: 85
Housing Costs: 98
Bankruptcy: 58
Credit Score: 21
Credit Debt: 99
Credit Usage: 72
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 6 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 6: Lincoln, Neb.
Overall Rank: 6
GRADE = A
By Category:
Foreclosure: 83
Housing Costs: 73
Bankruptcy: 26
Credit Score: 96
Credit Debt: 100
Credit Usage: 100
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 5 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau Direct
No. 5: Fargo, N.D.
Overall Rank: 5
GRADE = A+
By Category:
Foreclosure: 88
Housing Costs: 99
Bankruptcy: 79
Credit Score: 96
Credit Debt: 50
Credit Usage: 66
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 4 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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No. 4: Honolulu, Hawaii
Overall Rank: 4
GRADE = A+
By Category:
Foreclosure: 97
Housing Costs: 39
Bankruptcy: 98
Credit Score: 91
Credit Debt: 66
Credit Usage: 75
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 3 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Greater Madison Convention Visitors Bureau
No. 3: Madison, Wis.
Overall Rank: 3
GRADE = A+
By Category:
Foreclosure: 81
Housing Costs: 56
Bankruptcy: 68
Credit Score: 97
Credit Debt: 84
Credit Usage: 95
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 2 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau
No. 2: Sioux Falls, S.D.
Overall Rank: 2
GRADE = A+
By Category:
Foreclosure: 80
Housing Costs: 100
Bankruptcy: 62
Credit Score: 100
Credit Debt: 68
Credit Usage: 88
For overall ranking, lower is better. No. 1 has the least personal debt. For the individual criteria, higher is better. So a city ranked No. 1 is the worst in that category. No. 100 is best.
Next: No. 1 With Least DebtMore From MensHealth.com:
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Billings Chamber of Commerce
No. 1: Billings, Mont.
Overall Rank: 1
GRADE = A+
By Category:
Foreclosure: 86
Housing Costs: 95
Bankruptcy: 51
Credit Score: 80
Credit Debt: 94
Credit Usage: 82
For overall ranking, lower is better. For the individual criteria, higher is better.
· See Debt Stats for All 100 Cities
Next: 20 Ways to Waste $$More From MensHealth.com:
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Things We Burn Money On
Now that you've seen which U.S. cities are doing the worst when it comes to staying out of debt, click through our gallery to see the money-wasting ways that might have helped get them into this mess.
We asked AOL users the biggest ways they waste money and this is what they told us.
Start Next Gallery: 20 Ways to Waste MoneyMore in Money & Finance:
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Recent Comments
Jewel Box 926 02:09:00 PM Sep 24 2008
To get the best education on how our government functions (or MAL-functions), all one need do is tune into C-SPAN for about a half-hour. That being said, this week is anything but typical of what goes on in a normal day's work for Congress. It seems both parties are in agreement that being rushed into action ~ much the same way they were bullied into action vis a vis the Patriot Act ~ would be a mistake of monumental and historic proportions. I find it especially galling to listen as Paulson and Bernanke warn of the dire consequences we should expect unless Congress gives them carte blanch authority to get us out of this mess. It didn't occur overnight, now did it? Also, to hear those two pontificating on the "certain total meltdown" of our economy is a hoot. What the hell do they think the last two years have been? A "mini" meltdown?
Jewel Box 926 01:59:19 PM Sep 24 2008
Congress DOES "draft" legislation. If the Democrats are lucky enough to get a bill through the House, it then must also pass through the Senate. Unfortunately, most bills require more than a "simple majority" to pass. That requires at least eight Republicans vote with the Dems. Even when all that goes smoothly, the President still can veto the bill. Or, worse yet, Mr. Bush sits for a bipartisan photo-op in the Oval Office, then, as soon as the members of Congress are out the door, he flips the paperwork over and issues what's known as a "signing statement" in which he specifies which parts of the law he refuses to abide by or enact. More than 1,100 times in his two terms Bush has done this. So, not only is our financial system a train wreck, but the system which was designed to provide a "balance of power" and "checks and balances" has been made a mockery by the current administration.
LarrErv 03:25:55 PM Jun 29 2008
CONGRESS LEFT FOR FOURTH OF JULY VACATION THEY ARE ALL WORN OUT FROM INVESTIGATIING ROGER CLEMENS!
SinginAlyCat 01:18:31 PM Jun 29 2008
Yeah, what this also fails to mention is that Billings, MT is the meth capital of the universe and a dirty, scary place to live.
JRandMR84 12:50:29 PM Jun 29 2008
You that want to blame Bush for all the ills of the country forget that it's only gone down hill financially since the Democratic congress was voted in to "change" things. Well they sure have! The President doesn't make the laws Congress does. He only works with what they have given him. Don't believe the same old Demo hype. They are the reason there are so many troubles. Spend spend spend tax tax tax. More of the "free" giveaway if you vote Obama for change. Vote for the rockstar and see what you get. We'll all be hungry and homeless.
Roybardowell 12:39:18 PM Jun 29 2008
The reason this country is so messed up is No one will take responsibility for their own actions. It is easier to blame the President for their screw-ups.Wake up people and go get educated!
Redwing Irish 12:25:08 PM Jun 29 2008
When barbara bush voted for AL GORE, you BOZOS should have caught a clue!
Mayabelle1107 12:14:10 PM Jun 29 2008
Imagine that, the largest debt in a gambling mecca...hmmm, go figure
