Kansas ranks as the state with the highest levels of financial distress based on credit scores, distressed accounts, bankruptcy filings and search trends, according to WalletHub. The state posted a nearly 12% rise in non-business bankruptcies over the past year while residents run high volumes of online searches for debt and loan terms. Rising inflation, changing unemployment levels and other factors have created financial pressures that hit residents harder in some states than others nationwide.
Kansas Posts Highest Financial Distress Levels Nationwide
Kansas leads the nation in financial distress rankings based on multiple metrics reported by WalletHub. The state recorded a nearly 12% rise in non-business bankruptcies over the past year. Kansas residents also conducted high volumes of online searches for debt and loan-related terms, indicating widespread financial hardship.
Louisiana and Florida Report Elevated Distressed Account Rates
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and South Carolina follow Kansas in the rankings. About 12% of Louisianans have a credit account in forbearance or deferred payments, the highest of any state in the nation. Louisiana also had the highest number of distressed accounts per person.
Florida residents had the second-largest increase in the share of people with distressed accounts between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, at nearly 19%. Nearly 8.7% of people living in Florida had distressed accounts between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, representing the third-highest overall share in the country.
Maine Records Lowest Financial Stress Among US States
Maine ranks as the least financially stressed state thanks to stronger average credit scores, fewer distressed accounts and minimal search activity for financial hardship terms. Rhode Island, Hawaii, Vermont and Michigan round out the five least-stressed states, highlighting strong performances in New England and the Great Lakes regions.
WalletHub Examines Nine Metrics Across Six Categories
WalletHub examined nine metrics across six overall categories to produce the rankings. The categories included average credit scores, changes in the number of bankruptcy filings from March 2025 to March 2026, and search data on debt- and loan-related queries.
FAQ
Which state has the highest financial distress levels in the nation?
Kansas ranks as the state with the highest levels of financial distress based on credit scores, distressed accounts, bankruptcy filings and search trends, according to WalletHub. The state posted a nearly 12% rise in non-business bankruptcies over the past year.
What percentage of Louisiana residents have credit accounts in forbearance?
About 12% of Louisianans have a credit account in forbearance or deferred payments, the highest of any state in the nation. Louisiana also had the highest number of distressed accounts per person.
Which state ranks as the least financially stressed?
Maine ranks as the least financially stressed state thanks to stronger average credit scores, fewer distressed accounts and minimal search activity for financial hardship terms.
