Debt Anxiety Index
Some products in this article are from our partners. Read our Advertiser Discloser.
We surveyed 3,000 people to determine how debt affects people’s anxiety levels. We calculated a ‘debt anxiety index’ for each state by asking respondents about their personal debt anxiety threshold.
In other words, we inquired about the debt level, excluding mortgages, at which people begin to feel chronically stressed.
Check out the interactive map below for the results.
The Top 5 States
1. Delaware: $41,666.67
2. Wyoming: $40,000.00
3. Hawaii: $35,000.00
4. Idaho: $30,000.00
5. New Mexico: $28,333.33
The Lowest 5 States
50. South Dakota: $4,000
49. North Dakota: $4,800
48. Montana: $5,000
47. Alaska: $10,000
46. Kansas: $13,235
In addition to the regional comparisons, the survey also shed light on the type of debt that induces the most stress among people. 36% of respondents revealed that credit card debt gives them the most anxiety.
Personal loans trailed in the second spot, with 23% of people admitting that this form of debt makes them the most nervous. The worry associated with medical debt was indicated by 18% of respondents, followed by student loans (15%), and auto loans (8%).
The study painted a distressing picture of daily life under the shadow of debt. A concerning one-third of respondents confessed they worry about their debt on a daily basis. A staggering 78% admitted that, at one point or another, they’ve had to choose between buying groceries or paying the interest on their debt.
The survey also highlighted the profound impact debt can have on physical and mental health, with numerous respondents attributing significant health issues directly to their financial woes.
Methodology: Online panel survey of 3,000 adults based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.
List of States In Order of Lowest to Highest Debt Anxiety Thresholds
| State | Debt Anxiety Threshold |
|---|---|
| South Dakota | $4,000 |
| North Dakota | $4,800 |
| Montana | $5,000 |
| Alaska | $10,000 |
| Kansas | $13,235 |
| Vermont | $15,000 |
| West Virginia | $15,000 |
| Oklahoma | $17,727 |
| Arkansas | $18,333 |
| Missouri | $18,500 |
| Alabama | $19,000 |
| Virginia | $19,242 |
| Washington | $19,412 |
| Michigan | $19,677 |
| Mississippi | $19,737 |
| Kentucky | $19,839 |
| Tennessee | $19,839 |
| Louisiana | $20,000 |
| Indiana | $20,641 |
| Ohio | $20,647 |
| Massachusetts | $20,686 |
| Iowa | $20,714 |
| Wisconsin | $20,714 |
| North Carolina | $20,882 |
| Texas | $21,150 |
| Florida | $21,788 |
| Connecticut | $21,800 |
| Utah | $22,500 |
| Rhode Island | $23,000 |
| Colorado | $23,182 |
| Maryland | $23,182 |
| Oregon | $23,235 |
| Pennsylvania | $23,256 |
| Nevada | $23,333 |
| New Jersey | $23,679 |
| California | $23,818 |
| Illinois | $24,420 |
| Georgia | $25,526 |
| Arizona | $25,769 |
| New York | $26,277 |
| Maine | $26,667 |
| Nebraska | $26,818 |
| South Carolina | $27,222 |
| New Hampshire | $27,727 |
| Minnesota | $27,895 |
| New Mexico | $28,333 |
| Idaho | $30,000 |
| Hawaii | $35,000 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Delaware | $41,667 |