State Financial Distress Rankings 2026: All 50 States + DC Ranked
The State ADI ranks all 50 states and DC on six dimensions of household financial distress. Scores range from 34.5 (Idaho) to 76.0 (District of Columbia). 26 jurisdictions score Elevated or above.
Last updated: 2026-03-22
Which States Have the Most Financial Distress?
District of Columbia has the highest State ADI score at 76.0 (Serious Stress), followed by Nevada (66.0), Georgia (64.9), Louisiana (64.5), and Florida (62.8). These five jurisdictions share elevated delinquency rates across credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages, combined with high bankruptcy filing rates and above-average CFPB complaint volumes.
At the other end, Idaho (38.1), Montana (37.0), and North Dakota (34.6) show the least distress. The 37.9-point gap between the most and least distressed jurisdictions underscores how unevenly household financial stress distributes across the country.
At a Glance
The national American Distress Index currently reads 59.0 (Elevated). The national ADI tracks distress over time using a 2015–2024 baseline. The State ADI compares states to each other at a single point in time, revealing where household distress is concentrating geographically. Both use the same zone thresholds. See the interactive state map for a visual overview, or compare individual state foreclosure timelines alongside their distress scores.
All 51 Jurisdictions Ranked
State ADI scores for every state and DC, ranked from highest distress to lowest. Zone colors match the national ADI thresholds: Healthy (<35, green), Normal (35–50, blue), Elevated (50–65, yellow), Serious Stress (65–80, orange).
Source: American Default State ADI composite · 2026-03-22
What's Driving the Worst Scores
Each state's score reflects six weighted components. The chart below breaks down the top 10 most distressed states by component contribution — showing whether distress is concentrated in debt performance, economic need, legal filings, labor markets, complaint activity, or weak safety nets.
Components: Debt Stress 30%, Economic Need 20%, Legal Filings 15%, Labor Market 15%, Consumer Complaints 10%, Safety Net Gap 10%
Zone Distribution
The cross-sectional design centers scores at 50, so the median state falls near the Normal/Elevated boundary. The distribution reflects relative positioning, not absolute crisis levels — a "Normal" state may still have indicators that would look distressed in isolation.
Regional Analysis
Financial distress clusters geographically. The South leads with an average State ADI of 56.6 — 12 of 14 states in Elevated or Serious Stress. The Midwest averages 44.6. For a deeper analysis of what drives these geographic patterns — including the Deep South and Sun Belt corridors — see the State ADI rankings analysis.
Regions use Census Bureau definitions · DC included in Northeast
| Region | States | Avg Score | Elevated+ | Most Distressed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | 14 | 56.6 | 12 | Georgia (64.9) |
| Northeast | 12 | 50.7 | 6 | District of Columbia (76.0) |
| West | 13 | 47.2 | 5 | Nevada (66.0) |
| Midwest | 12 | 44.6 | 3 | Illinois (57.3) |
Worst States by Component
Different states struggle on different dimensions. Below are the five worst-scoring states on each of the six State ADI components. A state ranking high on multiple components suggests broad-based systemic distress; one ranking high on a single component may have a specific, identifiable vulnerability.
Debt Stress (30%)
CC, mortgage, auto delinquency
| State | Z-Score |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | +1.79 |
| Mississippi | +1.60 |
| Florida | +1.49 |
| Nevada | +1.46 |
| Georgia | +1.27 |
Economic Need (20%)
SNAP enrollment rate
| State | Z-Score |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | +2.68 |
| District of Columbia | +2.51 |
| Oregon | +1.65 |
| Georgia | +1.48 |
| Louisiana | +1.44 |
Legal Filings (15%)
Bankruptcy per 100K
| State | Z-Score |
|---|---|
| Alabama | +3.03 |
| Mississippi | +2.14 |
| Tennessee | +1.79 |
| Nevada | +1.67 |
| Georgia | +1.55 |
Labor Market (15%)
Unemployment rate
| State | Z-Score |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +3.04 |
| California | +1.67 |
| New Jersey | +1.56 |
| Delaware | +1.33 |
| Nevada | +1.33 |
Consumer Complaints (10%)
CFPB complaints per 100K
| State | Z-Score |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +3.84 |
| Maryland | +2.52 |
| New Jersey | +1.66 |
| Delaware | +1.61 |
| Georgia | +1.46 |
Safety Net Gap (10%)
Weak protections + programs
| State | Z-Score |
|---|---|
| Utah | +1.98 |
| Kansas | +1.94 |
| Wyoming | +1.94 |
| New Hampshire | +1.46 |
| South Dakota | +1.34 |
The Geographic Default Pattern
Two corridors of elevated distress emerge from the data. The Deep South corridor — Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia — combines high delinquency rates with high SNAP enrollment and weak safety nets. The Sun Belt corridor — Nevada, Florida, Texas — shows distress driven more by debt stress and consumer complaints, reflecting rapid population growth outpacing financial resilience. The states in the Healthy zone share a different profile: low delinquency, strong safety nets, and above-average labor markets.
Read more: The Two-Economy Problem →Full State Rankings
All 51 jurisdictions with composite score, zone, and all six component Z-scores. Click a state name to see its full distress profile, indicator data, and foreclosure law summary.
| Rank | State | Score | Zone | Debt | Econ | Legal | Labor | CFPB | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 76.0 | Serious | +1.21 | +2.51 | -0.84 | +3.04 | +3.84 | -0.51 |
| 2 | Nevada | 66.0 | Serious | +1.46 | +0.65 | +1.67 | +1.33 | +0.80 | -1.55 |
| 3 | Georgia | 64.9 | Elevated | +1.27 | +1.48 | +1.55 | -0.50 | +1.46 | -1.03 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 64.5 | Elevated | +1.79 | +1.44 | +0.80 | +0.19 | -0.22 | -0.98 |
| 5 | Florida | 62.8 | Elevated | +1.49 | +0.07 | +0.40 | +0.30 | +1.43 | +0.44 |
| 6 | Mississippi | 62.8 | Elevated | +1.60 | +0.13 | +2.14 | -0.39 | -0.83 | +0.67 |
| 7 | Delaware | 62.1 | Elevated | +0.57 | +0.16 | +0.83 | +1.33 | +1.61 | +0.27 |
| 8 | California | 59.8 | Elevated | +0.23 | +0.64 | -0.24 | +1.67 | +1.07 | +0.59 |
| 9 | Alabama | 58.8 | Elevated | +0.64 | +0.72 | +3.03 | -1.53 | -0.57 | +0.09 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 57.9 | Elevated | +0.93 | +1.33 | +0.33 | -0.50 | -0.80 | +0.25 |
| 11 | Illinois | 57.3 | Elevated | +0.34 | +0.96 | +0.64 | +0.64 | +0.16 | -0.72 |
| 12 | New York | 56.7 | Elevated | +0.70 | +0.92 | -0.50 | +0.64 | +0.36 | -0.59 |
| 13 | Texas | 56.7 | Elevated | +1.13 | -0.06 | -0.42 | +0.30 | -0.41 | +1.30 |
| 14 | Kentucky | 56.6 | Elevated | +0.22 | +0.50 | +1.33 | +0.53 | -0.95 | +0.40 |
| 15 | Michigan | 56.1 | Elevated | +0.09 | +0.95 | +0.78 | +1.10 | -0.04 | -1.35 |
| 16 | Maryland | 56.0 | Elevated | +0.38 | -0.29 | +0.51 | +0.19 | +2.52 | -0.59 |
| 17 | New Mexico | 55.4 | Elevated | +0.37 | +2.68 | -1.00 | +0.30 | -0.46 | -1.77 |
| 18 | West Virginia | 55.4 | Elevated | +0.88 | +1.02 | -0.72 | +0.64 | -1.00 | -0.38 |
| 19 | Arkansas | 54.1 | Elevated | +0.90 | -0.89 | +0.85 | +0.19 | -0.94 | +0.86 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 53.6 | Elevated | +0.07 | -0.70 | -0.08 | +1.56 | +1.66 | -0.58 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 53.1 | Elevated | +0.91 | -0.34 | -0.77 | +0.87 | -0.10 | -0.26 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | 52.4 | Elevated | +0.39 | +0.80 | -0.64 | +0.19 | +0.08 | -0.76 |
| 23 | Ohio | 52.3 | Elevated | +0.02 | +0.18 | +0.77 | +0.53 | -0.31 | -0.67 |
| 24 | Arizona | 52.1 | Elevated | +0.72 | -0.64 | +0.14 | +0.30 | +0.30 | -0.58 |
| 25 | Oregon | 51.5 | Elevated | -0.96 | +1.65 | +0.43 | +1.33 | +0.08 | -2.27 |
| 26 | Tennessee | 50.4 | Elevated | -0.02 | -0.33 | +1.79 | -0.50 | -0.43 | -0.53 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | 49.7 | Normal | -0.13 | +0.21 | -0.75 | +0.30 | +0.34 | +0.13 |
| 28 | Indiana | 49.5 | Normal | +0.42 | -0.80 | +1.29 | -0.61 | -0.85 | -0.14 |
| 29 | North Carolina | 48.6 | Normal | +0.43 | +0.23 | -0.84 | -0.16 | +0.16 | -1.21 |
| 30 | Missouri | 47.6 | Normal | -0.00 | -0.21 | +0.15 | -0.16 | -0.48 | -0.48 |
| 31 | Washington | 46.9 | Normal | -1.03 | -0.07 | -0.49 | +0.76 | +0.24 | +0.77 |
| 32 | Virginia | 46.0 | Normal | -0.71 | -0.42 | +0.31 | -0.50 | +0.80 | +0.07 |
| 33 | Colorado | 45.8 | Normal | -0.37 | -0.31 | -0.17 | -0.27 | +0.44 | -0.51 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | 45.6 | Normal | -0.80 | +0.85 | -1.07 | +0.87 | +0.26 | -1.88 |
| 35 | Connecticut | 44.4 | Normal | -0.46 | -0.47 | -0.71 | +0.19 | +0.73 | -0.93 |
| 36 | Kansas | 43.9 | Normal | -0.40 | -1.34 | -0.21 | -0.27 | -0.95 | +1.94 |
| 37 | Utah | 42.5 | Normal | -1.01 | -1.68 | +0.90 | -0.50 | -0.58 | +1.98 |
| 38 | Minnesota | 41.5 | Normal | -1.30 | -0.92 | +0.24 | +0.07 | -0.46 | +0.75 |
| 39 | Iowa | 41.3 | Normal | -0.61 | -0.84 | -0.52 | -0.61 | -1.17 | +1.27 |
| 40 | Alaska | 40.8 | Normal | -0.90 | -0.57 | -1.57 | +0.87 | -0.76 | +0.20 |
| 41 | Maine | 39.4 | Normal | -0.76 | +0.04 | -1.44 | -0.96 | -0.24 | -0.18 |
| 42 | Wyoming | 39.3 | Normal | -0.58 | -1.78 | -0.76 | -0.73 | -0.72 | +1.94 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | 38.6 | Normal | -1.50 | +0.02 | +0.17 | -1.07 | -0.63 | -0.29 |
| 44 | Nebraska | 38.3 | Normal | -0.93 | -1.07 | -0.22 | -1.18 | -0.92 | +1.04 |
| 45 | Hawaii | 38.2 | Normal | -0.83 | +0.11 | -0.94 | -2.10 | -0.07 | -0.05 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 38.2 | Normal | -0.97 | -1.53 | -1.14 | -1.07 | +0.85 | +1.46 |
| 47 | Idaho | 38.1 | Normal | -0.91 | -1.34 | -0.46 | -0.50 | -0.78 | +0.62 |
| 48 | Montana | 37.0 | Normal | -0.94 | -1.23 | -1.06 | -0.73 | -0.89 | +1.18 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 34.6 | Healthy | -0.92 | -1.10 | -0.99 | -1.64 | -1.41 | +1.23 |
| 50 | South Dakota | 34.5 | Healthy | -0.92 | -0.90 | -1.07 | -2.10 | -1.15 | +1.34 |
| 51 | Vermont | 34.5 | Healthy | -1.22 | -0.43 | -1.43 | -1.64 | -0.06 | +0.02 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest financial distress?
District of Columbia has the highest State ADI score at 76.0, placing it in the Serious Stress zone. Its distress is driven primarily by high debt stress (credit card, mortgage, and auto loan delinquency rates) and elevated CFPB complaint rates. Nevada (66.0) and Georgia (64.9) round out the top three.
Which state has the lowest financial distress?
Idaho has the lowest State ADI score at 38.1, in the Normal zone. Only 3 states currently score in the Healthy zone (below 35). These states share low delinquency rates across consumer credit categories and stronger safety net programs.
How is the State ADI calculated?
The State ADI uses cross-sectional Z-score normalization across all 51 jurisdictions. Six components are weighted: Debt Stress (30%), Economic Need (20%), Legal Filings (15%), Labor Market (15%), Consumer Complaints (10%), and Safety Net Gap (10%). Scores center at 50 — the median state falls near the Normal/Elevated boundary. Data sources include the NY Fed, BLS, USDA, U.S. Courts, and CFPB.
How does the State ADI differ from the national ADI?
The national ADI uses temporal Z-scores comparing current values to a 2015-2024 baseline — it tracks how distress changes over time. The State ADI uses cross-sectional Z-scores comparing states to each other at a point in time. The national ADI currently reads 59.0 (Elevated); state scores range from 34.5 to 76.0.
Which region has the highest average financial distress?
The South has the highest average State ADI score at 56.6, with 12 of 14 states in the Elevated or Serious Stress zones. Georgia (64.9) is the most distressed state in the region. The Midwest averages 44.6.
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level credit card, auto loan, and mortgage delinquency rates. Quarterly data from a nationally representative 5% sample of Equifax credit reports.
BLS, USDA, U.S. Courts
State unemployment rates (LAUS), SNAP enrollment (FNS), and bankruptcy filings per 100K (Administrative Office). Updated monthly or annually.
CFPB, State Statutes, KFF
Mortgage complaint density per 100K, foreclosure legal protections scoring, Medicaid enrollment rates, and HAF program status. Multiple federal and state sources.