Do the citizens of your state have good credit scores?
Thanks to data compiled by Experian, you can find out.
The average FICO Score in America is 714, according to 2026 data provided by FICO. Does your state’s average meet or exceed this national number?
Minnesota has the nation’s best credit score with a state average of 741. Mississippi ranks worst with a state average of 677.
In this article, we’ll briefly touch on what a “good” FICO score is and then dive into the state-by-state data provided by Experian to determine the 10 best and worst state average credit scores.
Table of Contents
What Is a Good Target FICO Score?
Best 10 State FICO Scores
Worst 10 State FICO Scores
FICO Scores for All 50 States
What Is a Good Target FICO Score?
Before you dig into the 2026 state credit score data, let’s first define what we’re talking about and set expectations for what you should consider a “good” score.
The data provided by Experian is on the FICO Score, which is one of the most used credit scores on the market.
This score runs from 300 to 850. When you hear people talking about a “perfect” 850 score, they’re usually referencing the FICO scale.
Money expert Clark Howard says chasing that “perfect score” is largely a waste of your time.
Instead, Clark says you should aim to keep your score at 760 or better.
“Aim for a 760. Once you reach 760, you’re going to get the exact same interest rates, loan terms, and credit card perks as someone sitting with an 850 score.”
This score puts you in the “very good” tier alongside 27.4% of your fellow Americans and comfortably ahead of the 714 national average.
If you’re looking to build your credit score, Team Clark has tips to help you improve your score by focusing on five key areas. We also have resources for building new scores and repairing damaged ones.
Before we dig into the state-specific data, here’s a look at Experian’s tiers for FICO scores that includes a breakdown of how many Americans (regardless of state affiliation) fall into those buckets:
Top 10 U.S. State FICO Credit Scores
Bottom 10 U.S. State FICO Credit Scores
Average Experian FICO Score for All 50 States (Plus D.C.)
Didn’t see your state on either list? Don’t worry, Experian has provided the data for all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Here’s an alphabetical list of the 2026 data, including how much the state averages have improved or declined from the 2025 average scores:
StateAverage FICO ScorePoint Change from 2025 to 2026
Alabama689-1
Alaska720-2
Arizona709-1
Arkansas691-2
California721-1
Colorado729-1
Connecticut724-2
Delaware7130
District of Columbia711-3
Florida704-2
Georgia691-2
Hawaii730-1
Idaho7290
Illinois720-2
Indiana710-1
Iowa728-1
Kansas720-1
Kentucky702-2
Louisiana685-3
Maine7310
Maryland713-1
Massachusetts730-1
Michigan717-1
Minnesota741-1
Mississippi677-1
Missouri711-1
Montana731-1
Nebraska728-2
Nevada7000
New Hampshire7350
New Jersey722-1
New Mexico701-1
New York719-1
North Carolina706-2
North Dakota730-2
Ohio713-2
Oklahoma692-2
Oregon731-1
Pennsylvania720-1
Rhode Island719-1
South Carolina699-2
South Dakota731-2
Tennessee703-1
Texas692-2
Utah729-1
Vermont7370
Virginia721-1
Washington7340
West Virginia698-2
Wisconsin7380
Wyoming723-1
Are you surprised by a particular state’s results? We’d love to hear your take on this data in the Clark.com community.
The post These U.S. States Have the Best & Worst Credit Scores appeared first on Clark Howard.