Vermont ranks highest for credit diligence, WalletHub report finds
Residents of Vermont are the most diligent in managing their credit, according to a report released June 25 by personal-finance company WalletHub.
WalletHub compared six key metrics across all 50 states to determine where people are most attentive to their credit. The data set included the percentage of customers who have filed disputes with creditors, the percentage of frozen credit reports, and the prevalence of active bankruptcies, missed payments, collection accounts, and foreclosures. Vermont ranked first, while Louisiana ranked last. Other states in the top five for credit diligence were Hawaii, Alaska, Massachusetts, and Iowa. The bottom five included West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
"Being diligent about your credit goes far beyond just making timely payments and only borrowing what you can afford to pay back, although those elements are important. True diligence also includes monitoring your credit reports regularly to make sure there are no inaccuracies and swiftly reporting anything that’s out of place. Mistakes on your credit report can unfairly hurt your credit score," according to Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst. Lupo also said, "Vermont is the state whose residents are the most diligent with credit. Vermont has the lowest share of people with active bankruptcies during Q1 2026, which shows that most people don’t miss their payments, which is a common path to collections or bankruptcy. In addition, during Q1 2026, Vermont had the second-lowest share of people who missed payments, the lowest share with collection accounts, and the 11th-lowest share with foreclosures."
The full report, including state rankings and additional commentary, is available on the WalletHub website. The analysis aims to highlight the importance of responsible credit management and regular monitoring to prevent errors that could negatively impact credit scores. For more information, visit WalletHub.
WalletHub also provides related studies on financial literacy, financial distress, state economies, and money management skills in cities, according to the company.