Edited by Samuel MountjoyTop 10 Metros With the Highest Average Gen Z Credit Card Debt
Edited by Samuel Mountjoy
Quick Answer
- The Bridgeport, Connecticut, metro area had the highest average Gen Z credit card balance ($5,383) of any metro in the country.
- The average card balance in this metro is 49% higher than the national average.
- The places with the highest Gen Z credit card debt in the country include metros in Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii and New York state.
Credit card debt among Gen Z consumers (ages 18 to 29) was highest in some of the country's most costly metro areas, according to Experian data from June 2026.
Gen Z credit card debt in many of these cities exceeded the nationwide average balance for this generation, which came in at $3,603. That's 3.1% higher than a year earlier, marking the fastest growth of any generation.
- In cities where the cost of living is higher than average, Gen Z residents might be using credit to cover income shortfalls.
- Higher credit card balances don't necessarily signal financial trouble, however. In many metro areas, both the average Gen Z credit card balance and the average Gen Z FICO® ScoreΘ increased from the year before, with average credit utilization remaining relatively unchanged from June 2025.
- The national average FICO® Score for Gen Z held at 678.
10 Metros Where Gen Z Credit Card Debt Is Highest
The Bridgeport, Connecticut, metro area held steady as the place where Gen Z carried the highest average credit card debt. The average balance there grew to $5,383, an increase of 3.8% year over year, according to Experian data.
This Connecticut metro area, which includes the cities of Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk, had an average Gen Z credit card balance about 49% higher than the national average of $3,603. The Bridgeport metro also nearly doubled the average in the Toledo, Ohio, metro area, which had the lowest average balance at $2,763.
Top 10 Metros With the Highest Average Gen Z Credit Card Debt
| Metro | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $5,186 | $5,383 | 3.8% |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL | $4,590 | $4,794 | 4.4% |
| Honolulu, HI | $4,453 | $4,675 | 5.0% |
| New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA | $4,374 | $4,520 | 3.3% |
| San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA | $4,235 | $4,451 | 5.1% |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | $4,214 | $4,337 | 2.9% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA | $4,086 | $4,310 | 5.5% |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $4,042 | $4,304 | 6.5% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $4,014 | $4,272 | 6.4% |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | $4,153 | $4,233 | 1.9% |
Source: Experian data as of June of each year
In eight of the 10 metros on this list, the cost of living is higher than the national average. The only outliers are Austin, Texas, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Across all states, the average credit card balance for Gen Z also grew the fastest out of any generation (a 3.1% increase from 2025).
Despite Higher Balances, Gen Z Credit Utilization Identical to Millennial Levels
According to Experian data from June 2026, Gen Z and millennials were tied for the highest credit utilization rate of any generation.
| Generation | Average Credit Card Utilization |
|---|---|
| Generation Z (18-29) | 35% |
| Millennials (30-45) | 35% |
| Generation X (46-61) | 32% |
| Baby boomers (62-80) | 21% |
| Silent Generation (81+) | 12% |
Source: Experian data as of June 2026; ages as of 2026
Gen Z has a higher credit utilization rate than most other generations, but a lower average credit card balance. That suggests credit limits are lower for Gen Z. A lower credit limit makes it easier to max out a card—or to at least push a credit utilization rate higher.
Credit utilization is the percentage of available revolving credit currently being used. This is a key part of how FICO measures amounts owed, which makes up 30% of a FICO® Score. Gen Z's average utilization of 35% is above the 30% mark, where utilization starts to have a more exaggerated negative effect on credit scores.
Learn more: How to Get Out of Debt
Cities With the Fastest-Growing Average Gen Z Credit Card Debt
While the Bridgeport, Connecticut, metro area had the highest average Gen Z credit card balance, it didn't see the largest percentage increase from the previous year. Madison, Wisconsin, had the biggest jump, up 8.5% from $2,683 to $2,912.
Top 10 Metros With the Fastest-Growing Average Gen Z Credit Card Debt
| Metro | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $2,683 | $2,912 | 8.5% |
| Worcester, MA | $3,273 | $3,534 | 8.0% |
| Richmond, VA | $3,265 | $3,499 | 7.2% |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $3,383 | $3,618 | 6.9% |
| Modesto, CA | $3,236 | $3,459 | 6.9% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $3,875 | $4,140 | 6.8% |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $3,105 | $3,317 | 6.8% |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $4,042 | $4,304 | 6.5% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $4,014 | $4,272 | 6.4% |
| Boise City-Nampa, ID | $3,071 | $3,268 | 6.4% |
Source: Experian data as of June of each year
A Bank of America survey found that more than half of Gen Zers needed financial help to cover their basic living expenses. That included rent and utilities, groceries, health insurance costs and cellphone bills. Folks in this camp said they received financial assistance from family, the government or friends to make ends meet. What's more, less than 1% of Gen Zers were putting a set percentage of their paychecks into a savings account each month, according to the same survey.
Where Average Gen Z Debt Was the Lowest
The lowest average Gen Z debt was found in the Midwest and in some Southern states, where the cost of living is substantially lower.
Top 10 Metros With the Lowest Average Gen Z Credit Card Debt
| Metro | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo, OH | $2,790 | $2,763 | -1.0% |
| Dayton, OH | $2,769 | $2,800 | 1.1% |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | $2,678 | $2,802 | 4.6% |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $2,800 | $2,825 | 0.9% |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $2,814 | $2,863 | 1.7% |
| Syracuse, NY | $2,794 | $2,887 | 3.3% |
| Memphis, TN-AR-MS | $2,937 | $2,895 | -1.4% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $2,839 | $2,896 | 2.0% |
| Madison, WI | $2,683 | $2,912 | 8.5% |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | $2,870 | $2,961 | 3.2% |
Source: Experian data as of June of each year
Bright Spots for Gen Z
Gen Z does have some wins to celebrate. Average credit utilization for this generation either held steady or dropped slightly from 2025 in most of the largest metro areas, according to Experian data. Average FICO® Scores in most of those areas changed by no more than one or two points. In Memphis, Tennessee, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, the average score for Gen Z increased by four points.
This generation is also building their nest egg. According to a 2026 Northwestern Mutual study, the average age that Gen Z respondents started saving for retirement was 22, compared to 28 for millennials and 32 for Gen X. More than half (58%) also said they expect to be financially prepared for retirement.
In the meantime, Gen Z is carrying the most credit card debt in metro areas where the cost of living is above average. Living in these areas with an entry-level job could make it difficult to cover all your bills.
Methodology: The analysis results provided are based on an Experian-created statistically relevant aggregate sampling of our consumer credit database that may include use of the FICO® Score 8 version. Different sampling parameters may generate different findings compared with other similar analysis. Analyzed credit data did not contain personal identification information. Metro areas group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for population censuses and compilations of related statistical data.
FICO® is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
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About the author
Marianne Hayes
Marianne Hayes is a longtime freelance writer who's been covering personal finance for nearly a decade. She specializes in everything from debt management and budgeting to investing and saving. Marianne has written for CNBC, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping and more.
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