How Does Oregon Compare to the National Average?

Oregon is above the national average on 1 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 9.5% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 3.6%, and total debt per capita at $69,640.

Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Oregon has risen 3.2pp and total household debt has grown 23.0%. Most metrics remain below the national baseline.

Key Statistics at a Glance

9.5% Credit Card Delinquency -2.9pp vs national Rank: #44 of 51
3.6% Auto Loan Delinquency -1.6pp vs national Rank: #37 of 51
0.64% Mortgage Delinquency -0.3pp vs national Rank: #43 of 51
$69,640 Total Debt per Capita +$6,440 vs national Rank: #12 of 51
$4,030 Credit Card Balance per Capita $-320 vs national Rank: #25 of 51
51.5 State Distress Index Elevated Rank: #25 of 51

State Distress Index: Oregon

51.5 Elevated #25 of 51 states
Oregon
Healthy Normal Elevated Serious Crisis

Component Breakdown

Debt Stress
30%
Economic Need
20%
Legal Filings
15%
Labor Market
15%
Consumer Complaints
10%
Safety Net Gap
10%

The national American Distress Index reads 59.0 (Elevated). Oregon's State Distress Index of 51.5 (Elevated) is computed from 6 data dimensions covering debt performance, economic need, bankruptcy filings, employment, consumer complaints, and safety net strength.

Oregon vs. National Average

Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.

Download all states (CSV)

Oregon vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)

Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.

Similar States by Distress Level

States ranked closest to Oregon (#25) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.

State ADI Score Zone Top Driver
Oregon 51.5 Elevated Economic Need
Ohio 52.3 Elevated Legal Filings
Arizona 52.1 Elevated Debt Stress
Tennessee 50.4 Elevated Legal Filings

Change Since 2019

Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.

Metric 2019 2025 Change Nat'l 2025
Credit Card Delinquency 6.3% 9.5% +3.2pp 12.4%
Auto Loan Delinquency 2.6% 3.6% +1.0pp 5.2%
Mortgage Delinquency 0.50% 0.64% +0.1pp 0.94%
Total Debt per Capita $56,620 $69,640 +23.0% $63,200
CC Balance per Capita $3,200 $4,030 +25.9% $4,350

Oregon Foreclosure Law Summary

Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Oregon primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure.

Foreclosure Type Non-Judicial
Homestead Exemption $40,000
Anti-Deficiency Yes (limited)
State Distress Index 51.5 (Elevated)
Typical Timeline 150–210 days
Right to Cure The borrower may cure the default (pay all past-due amounts plus fees and costs)…

Oregon is primarily a non-judicial foreclosure state. The vast majority of residential mortgage foreclosures proceed as trustee's sales under the power of sale in a trust deed, governed by ORS 86.705-86.815.

Full Oregon foreclosure law guide →

Strong Safety Net as Partial Buffer

Despite mixed signals in the data, Oregon's safety net score of 81.5 (Strong) provides a partial buffer that many states lack. Medicaid covers 23.7% of the population, the Homeowner Assistance Fund remains active, and state foreclosure protections add additional guardrails. Even so, the Distress Index reads 51.5 (Elevated) — safety nets slow crises, they don't prevent them.

CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Oregon

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 5,000 mortgage complaints from Oregon since 2012 — 118.1 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 129.3 per 100K. Oregon ranks #20 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.

118.1 Complaints per 100K -11.2 vs national Rank: #20 of 51
5,000 Total Complaints (2012–2026) Trending down (-9.1% YoY) 98.4% timely response
Loan modification Top Complaint Issue 1,314 complaints #2: Trouble during payment process
Year 202020212022202320242025
Complaints 286261225263239223

Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.

Bankruptcy Filings: Oregon

Bankruptcy filings reflect the downstream consequence of sustained financial distress — when households exhaust savings, fall behind on debt, and run out of alternatives. Oregon's filing rate exceeds the national average.

193.7 Filings per 100K Residents +24.6 vs national 169.1 Rank: #16 of 51 · 8,202 filings
77.7% Chapter 7 (Liquidation) 21.8% Chapter 13 (Repayment Plan) 12-month period · Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
+24.3% Year-over-Year Change Filings increasing vs prior 12-month period

Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.

Credit Distress: Oregon

The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 9.9% of Oregon residents have debt in collections — below the national rate of 13.9%. 11.7% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 31.8% are credit-constrained.

9.9% Debt in Collections -4.0pp vs national 13.9% Rank: #39 of 51 · 2025 Q1
11.7% Subprime Credit (<620) -5.2pp vs national 16.9% Rank: #42 of 51
9.9% CC Accounts 90+ Days Late -4.0pp vs national 13.9% Rank: #40 of 51

Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.

Economic Context: Oregon

SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.

17.4% SNAP Enrollment Rate +5.4pp vs national 11.9% Rank: #3 of 51 · 739,791 persons
5.2% Unemployment Rate +1.2pp vs national 4.0% BLS LAUS · 2025-12
13.7% Pre-Pandemic SNAP Rate Still 3.7pp above pre-pandemic Oct 2019 – Feb 2020 average

Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.

Safety Net Strength: Oregon

The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Oregon scores 81.5 out of 100 (Strong), ranking #1 of 51 jurisdictions.

81.5 Safety Net Score Strong · Above national avg (49.3) Rank: #1 of 51
23.7% Medicaid Enrollment Rate Expansion state (138% FPL) Component score: 60.9/100
active Homeowner Assistance Fund Funds still available Component score: 100/100

Component Breakdown

Medicaid
60.9
SNAP
77
HAF
100
Legal Protections
88

Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the credit card delinquency rate in Oregon?

The credit card delinquency rate in Oregon is 9.5% as of Q4 2025, ranking #44 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 6.3% in 2019.

How does Oregon's household debt compare to the national average?

Oregon residents carry $69,640 in total debt per capita, above the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 23.0% since 2019. Oregon ranks #12 nationally for total household debt per capita.

What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Oregon?

Auto loan delinquency in Oregon stands at 3.6% as of Q4 2025, below the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #37 nationally. The rate has risen from 2.6% in 2019.

What type of foreclosure process does Oregon use?

Oregon primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure. This allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings, resulting in a faster process. See our full Oregon foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.

Is Oregon above or below the national average for financial distress?

Oregon scores 51.5 on the State Distress Index (Elevated), ranking #25 of 51 jurisdictions. This composite score is built from 6 data dimensions: debt delinquency rates, SNAP enrollment, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, CFPB complaints, and safety net strength. The national American Distress Index reads 59.0 (Elevated).

How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Oregon?

The CFPB has received 5,000 mortgage complaints from Oregon since 2012, a rate of 118.1 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #20 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 129.3 per 100K. Companies responded to 98.4% of Oregon complaints within the required timeframe.

What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Oregon?

Oregon had 8,202 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 193.7 per 100,000 residents — above the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #16 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 77.7% and Chapter 13 for 21.8%. Filings changed +24.3% year-over-year.

What percentage of people in Oregon have debt in collections?

9.9% of individuals in Oregon have debt in collections, below the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #39 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 11.7% of Oregon residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).

What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Oregon?

739,791 residents of Oregon receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 17.4% — above the national rate of 11.9%. This ranks #3 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -3.9% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 13.7%.

How strong is Oregon's financial safety net?

Oregon scores 81.5 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #1 of 51 jurisdictions (Strong). The score combines Medicaid coverage (23.7% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (17.4%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (active), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 49.3.

Data Sources

NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel

State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.

American Distress Index

Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five statistically derived components. National score as of the latest available quarter.

Oregon Foreclosure Statutes

State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.

CFPB Complaint Database

Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.

USDA SNAP State Activity

Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.

U.S. Bankruptcy Courts

Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.

Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer

Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.

Safety Net Index

Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.

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If you're struggling with debt or facing foreclosure, free help is available. Find help near you · Browse the Glossary · The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides HUD-approved housing counselors at no cost. You can also call 1-800-569-4287.