Georgians are in financial distress, says new WalletHub study. Here’s why
According to the Consumer News and Business Channel, U.S. consumer debt “hit a record $18.8 trillion at the end of 2025,” which means the average American “has an average of $154,152 per household” of debt.
With all that debt and still having to pay incoming bills, Americans are feeling the pressure now more than ever. And a recent study by WalletHub analysts backs that up.
“The report highlights where financial hardship is most widespread across the country and provides insight into the challenges many Americans continue to face,” said Adam McCann, financial writer at WalletHub.
To find the most and least financially distressed states, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states using six categories: credit score, people with accounts in distress, average number of accounts in distress, change in number of bankruptcy filings from March 2025 to March 2026, “debt” search interest index and “loans” search interest index.
The study then scored each state using the categories and ranked them from one to 50, with the No. 1 state having the most people in financial distress.
So, where does Georgia rank? Let’s check it out:
Why are GA residents in financial distress?
According to the study, Georgia ranked seventh, meaning people in Georgia are seeing and feeling financial distress. Here’s what to know:
Georgia residents have decent credit scores, but have a high number of bankruptcy filings from 2025 to now. Georgia residents also landed high on the “loans” search and “debt” search, highlighting the overall financial distress within the state, the study found.
Where do other states rank?
The top five states with the most financial distress are:
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Florida
- Texas
- South Carolina
What do you think about this study? Let me know in the comments.
