Credit Scores Across the Country: Which Third are You In?

By Linsey Knerl. Last updated 25 June 2017. 15 comments
ShareThis

Credit Karma.com recently released a report that concluded about a third of consumer's credit scores have increased (that's good) during a period of October 2008 until January 2009. Suprisingly, one third also took a dive, while the other third remained relatively unchanged. Where do you stand in this U.S. Statistic? And how can you increase your score for free? 

Here are the details from the report, obtained from Credit Karma.com (a pro-consumer credit score tracking and management service that has delivered more than 850,000 free credit scores and counts more than 250,000 registered users.) It just announced the launch of it's U.S. Credit Score Climate Report with trend data for January 2009. Here are some of the more interesting points of the report:  

  • "During the October 2008 to January 2009 time period, 37% of consumer credit scores have gone up, 31% have gone down, and 32% remained the same.  Of the scores that increased, the average credit score rose 13 points during the time period.  Of the scores that decreased, the average credit score dropped 15 points.  Here are some additional points revealed in the Report:

 

  • Average credit score with no change is 693 whereas 673 and 662 are the respective credit score averages for those with an increase and decrease. This would suggest that people with higher credit scores maintain more stable credit scores while those with marginal credit scores tend to be in flux.

 

  • Age is one key factor. Younger consumers, age 18-24, saw the biggest increase in their credit scores. This is caused by a few factors. First, younger people have a shorter credit history and therefore lower scores (Average score: 670). As a result, we see a higher percent of younger consumer’s credit scores on the increase. Secondly, older consumers, age 65+, tend to have a longer and more stable credit history (Average score: 736)

 

  • Location is another key factor. As states experience economic changes such as massive layoffs, foreclosure, bankruptcy or impacts of the economic stimulus initiatives, credit scores may be impacted. Currently, we don’t see major differences between the states highlighted in this report.”

 

 

Want to know more about Credit Karma and how it works? We interview Ken Lin, CEO of CreditKarma.com tonight on our live Blog Talk Radio show! Tune in at 8pm CST to hear how you can get your credit score for free, what actions might help to increase your score, and what you should be doing now to get a handle on future credit opportunities.

 

Report data courtesy of CreditKarma.com

Like this article? Pin it!

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Guest's picture
James

If you have fraud locks on your credit, CreditKarma will not work.

Bummer.

Guest's picture
Lynnie

I just paid off my car 3 weeks ago and have no CC's. Score 702. Not bad considering the financial train wreck I was in 5 years ago with a credit score of ~510. :)

Guest's picture
cafegurl

I just established credit and as a student keeping my credit score up is a little difficult but iv'e been raising my credit score for the past 5 months or so. I now have a credit score in the 670's by fall i want to be in the 700's

Guest's picture

I'm still young, but I've never had any problems with credit and just paid off my car. Score - 730 as of just before paying off my car.

Guest's picture

I am on my late 20's and have no problem with credit history as well. I keep a good track record whenever I can. Most important of all, keep those credit lines available, you'll never know when you'll be needing them again. It's good for future reference too.

Guest's picture
GTrant

I have never heard of credit karma before but I sure as hell signed up! I have no debt outside of my mortgage and the two car leases we carry. My credit score came in at a solid 769. That is not too bad considering a year ago I was carrying $150K on credit cards for some 0% interest credit card arbitrage. Once those pesky credit requests drop off I figure I'll be over the 800 mark.

Guest's picture
cafegurl

My credit score just jumped from 670 to 694. I thought i would get if up to 700 by fall but it seems like it will be this spring or summer :-D

Guest's picture

I purchased a used car this past weekend and was SHOCKED that my FICO score was pegged at 850. Again, the last time I ran it was in '06 when it was in the 700's. I pay my CC in full every month and maybe raising the credit limit when I can (though I steadily spend a few hundred every month) is helping the score.

Guest's picture
Roger

I believe my credit score is at 760, when last I checked. It's been pretty stable lately, as I've managed to avoid too much spending and wide variations in the amount of various debts I've taken on.

Guest's picture
jim

I really don't care what my credit score is. My goal in life is to get off the credit wheel and become totally self-financing. And the end is within sight.

Guest's picture
KG

The mention that people with a high credit score will have a credit score is so true. These individuals have a good credit score for a reason and usually have good credit habits.

Guest's picture
Spedie

I've been watching my FICO on creditkarma.com for about a year now. It was pretty steady - running about 765/766 or so every month, until February 2009. It then dropped over 30 points.

I've been debt free except the house since 12/2007. I will not play the credit game anymore because it practically put me in the poor house.

I suppose I will slowly watch it go to zero, long after my house is paid off.

I have never had a late payment or bounced a check in all my 45 years.

Guest's picture
guill

My wife 850, mine not so good 780.

Guest's picture
Andrew Casler

Hi,
I'm writing an article about the pitfalls of consumer credit for a journalism course at Ithaca College. Undoubtedly, my story would benefit from an interview with a family or individual who has had interest rates rise on their credit cards without missing payments and/or have found themselves in an car loan or mortgage with unreasonable terms such as high interest rates and other poor terms. This is going to be a very and long detailed article, so I'll appreciate any sources or information that people can provide.

Thanks for your time, I would greatly appreciate a reply,
Andrew Casler

Acasler1@ithaca.edu
Home:(607)375-4686

Guest's picture
Skip Mull

Because of the numerous questions I can't answer them all here but would be glad to at info@creditcarecorp.com. Sincery,Skip Mull.