Montana residents are the best at managing money and Marylanders are the worst, according to a new CreditCards.com analysis.
The study compared each state's average credit score with its median income. "Conventional wisdom is that people with more money have better credit scores, but we found this is not always the case," said Matt Schulz, CreditCards.com's senior industry analyst.
In Montana, for instance, the average credit score is 32 points higher than one would expect based upon the state's median income (which is 13% below the national median). Montanans are overcoming this obstacle to post the country's 11th-best credit score.
Maryland, the worst state at managing money, is a good example of why a high income doesn't necessarily translate into financial success. The Old Line State has the second-highest median income in the U.S. (33% above the national median) but only the 31st-best credit score. Maryland's average credit score is 37 points lower than its income suggests it should be.
"The main takeaway is that good financial habits like paying your bills on time and keeping your debts low are what build a solid credit score, not how much money you earn," Schulz added.
Credit score data courtesy of Experian. Median income data courtesy of the United States Census Bureau. Full methodology available upon request.
CreditCards.com is a leading online credit card marketplace, bringing consumers and credit card issuers together. At its free website, consumers can compare hundreds of credit card offers from America's leading issuers and banks and apply securely, online. CreditCards.com is also a destination site for consumers wanting to learn more about credit cards. Offering advice, news, features, statistics and tools, CreditCards.com helps consumers make smart choices about credit cards. In 2015, over 27 million unique visitors used CreditCards.com to find the right credit card to suit their needs.