What states are debt free?

No U.S. state is completely "debt-free," but states like Nebraska, Utah, Tennessee, South Dakota, Idaho, and Oklahoma consistently rank as having the lowest state government debt, with very manageable per capita debt levels, while others like New Jersey, Connecticut, and Hawaii have much higher liabilities. These fiscally healthy states manage their budgets well, showing strong fiscal stability by keeping overall state debt low relative to assets.

Who owns over 70% of the US debt?

No single entity owns over 70% of U.S. debt, but roughly 70-80% is held domestically by U.S. investors and institutions like the Federal Reserve, Social Security, mutual funds, and banks, with the rest held by foreign investors, mainly Japan, China, and the U.K. It's a mix of internal (government-to-government) and public (investors) holdings, with domestic investors holding the largest share of the public debt.
 

What state is the most in debt?

California has the most total state debt by a large margin, exceeding $1 trillion when including local governments, but states like New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut often rank highest for debt on a per capita basis, reflecting different fiscal realities and obligations. California leads in sheer volume due to its large population and liabilities, including significant unfunded pension obligations, while per capita measures highlight the burden on individual residents in other states.
 

What states cannot pay their bills?

Truth in Accounting sorts states based on their ability to cover their debts. The top “sinkhole states” — states lacking the funds to cover their costs — were New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California. Conversely, 25 states touted a surplus of funds relative to their total costs and debts.

Which US state is the most financially stable?

There isn't one single "most" stable state, as rankings vary, but Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, Florida, and Wyoming consistently rank high for government fiscal stability, showing strong cash, low debt, and funded pensions. For individual financial well-being, Colorado and Utah often lead due to rising incomes and high discretionary spending, while Vermont stands out for responsible resident borrowing habits. 

Who does the US Owe its $35 Trillion debt? (National Debt Explained)

Which states are struggling financially?

As of mid-2025, recent studies by WalletHub https://finance.yahoo.com/news/florida-now-2nd-most-financially-190300951.html, WalletHub https://www.fox13news.com/news/states-have-most-people-financial-distress-study-finds, WFSB identify Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, and South Carolina as the most financially distressed states, based on metrics like credit scores, debt searches, and bankruptcy filings, with the South generally showing more struggles, while states like Hawaii, Vermont, and Alaska fare best.
 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different reports rank states differently, but Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire are frequently cited as top states for quality of life due to factors like health, safety, environment, and strong communities, with Vermont often leading for its balance of nature and low crime/stress, while Massachusetts excels in health and education, and New Hampshire boasts great air quality and community engagement. 

Which state is least in debt?

On one end, Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming consistently rank near the bottom of debt burden rankings. Idaho ranks last among U.S. states in per capita long-term debt, at $3,900—making it the state with the least per capita debt in the country.

Is everyone struggling financially right now?

More than a quarter of US adults say they're struggling financially: 73% of Americans reported “living comfortably” or “doing okay,” according to October 2024 survey data from the Federal Reserve.

Who owns the 36 trillion US debt?

The U.S. owes its $36 trillion debt to a mix of domestic investors (like private individuals, mutual funds, the Federal Reserve, banks) and foreign entities, with Japan and China holding significant portions of the foreign-held debt, alongside the U.S. government owing money to its own trust funds (like Social Security). Roughly 70-80% is held domestically, while the rest is owned by foreign investors, primarily Japan and the UK.
 

Who is the US most in debt too?

The U.S. owes the most money to domestic entities, primarily government trust funds like Social Security, but among foreign countries, Japan is the largest holder of U.S. debt, followed by the United Kingdom, and then China, though China's holdings have decreased recently. These countries hold U.S. Treasury securities as safe investments for economic stability, diversification, and currency management. 

What state has the worst credit card debt?

Alaska currently tops the list, with the average Alaskan consumer carrying $8,077 in credit-card debt as of Q3 2024. Alaska has historically ranked high in revolving-credit balances, but the latest increase reinforces that it remains the most indebted state on a per-consumer basis.

What percent of Americans are 100% debt free?

About 23% of Americans are 100% debt-free, according to recent Federal Reserve data, meaning they have zero debt across all categories like mortgages, student loans, and credit cards, though figures can vary slightly by source and definition, with younger adults (Gen Z) showing higher rates of debt freedom and older adults often carrying more, notes WalletHub, National Debt Relief, and the Urban Institute. 

Who was the last president to balance the US budget?

The last president to oversee balanced federal budgets was Bill Clinton, achieving surpluses for four consecutive years from fiscal years 1998 to 2001, following the passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, marked by higher revenues from tax increases on the wealthy and a booming economy, combined with spending cuts and bipartisan efforts. 

Why can't the US get out of debt?

We have slower income growth, so we have fewer resources with which to pay our debt. Paul Solman: That is fewer tax revenues, which would mean borrowing even more. Plus, lower growth means less demand from businesses to borrow money for investment, which also tends to lower rates.

How many Americans have $50,000 in their savings account?

Personal Savings in the U.S.

18 percent said their saving were at least $1000 but under $10,000, while 11 percent each had $10,000 to $49,999 and $50,000 or more saved up.

What is the $27.40 rule?

The "27.40 rule" is a simple personal finance strategy to save $10,000 in a year by consistently setting aside $27.40 every single day, which adds up to $10,001 annually, making a large savings goal seem more manageable and achievable through daily micro-savings and habit-building. 

Is $40,000 a year considered poor?

$40k a year isn't universally poverty; it's low-middle class for a single person in the US, but can feel like poverty in high-cost cities or for families, while being comfortable in cheaper areas, heavily depending on location, household size, and lifestyle, as the federal poverty line for a single person is much lower (around $15k) but a family of four needs over $30k just to meet poverty thresholds. 

What state has the worst financial problems?

Texas is the most financially distressed state in the country, followed by Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and South Carolina. The states that are best off? That honor goes to Hawaii, followed by Vermont, Alaska, Oregon and New Mexico.

What states are operating at a surplus?

Alaska accumulated the largest 15-year surplus (126.9%), followed by North Dakota (124.6%), Wyoming (120.4%), Utah (113.3%), and New Mexico (110.3%). Montana was the only state to end each of the 15 years examined with a surplus.

Which states are most financially stable?

• Utah. #1 in Fiscal Stability. #1 in Best States Overall. ...
• Delaware. #2 in Fiscal Stability. #18 in Best States Overall. ...
• New York. #3 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Iowa. #4 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Georgia. #5 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Nebraska. #6 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Tennessee. #7 in Fiscal Stability. ...
• Idaho. #8 in Fiscal Stability.

What is the hardest US state to live in?

There's no single "hardest" state, as it's subjective, but recent studies often point to Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Tennessee for poor quality of life, high stress, low economic opportunity, or significant public safety/health issues, while Alaska presents challenges with extreme cost of living and remoteness, and Florida faces criticism for raising families despite other strengths. States consistently ranked poorly often struggle with poverty, education, healthcare access, and violent crime. 

Which US state is the happiest?

Hawaii, Maryland, and Nebraska are consistently ranked among the happiest states in the U.S. by recent studies (like WalletHub's 2025 report), with Hawaii topping the list for overall satisfaction, physical well-being, and life expectancy, while Maryland and Nebraska excel in financial stability and community factors. Other top contenders often include New Jersey, Connecticut, and Utah, though rankings can vary slightly based on specific metrics.
 

Which state is the cheapest to live in?

Mississippi is consistently ranked as the cheapest state to live in due to extremely low housing costs, affordable groceries, and low transportation expenses, with other very affordable states often including West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. While wages can be lower, the significantly reduced cost of living makes these states attractive for budget-conscious individuals, offering low taxes (especially on retirement income) and overall lower expenses.