7 California Cities Among Top 10 for Highest Credit Card Debt in US

Seven California cities rank among the top 10 communities with the highest credit card debt in the U.S., according to a WalletHub analysis of 182 large cities. Santa Clarita holds the top national position with an average household debt of $23,714, while total U.S. household debt reached an all-time high of $18.8 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported.

Which California cities have the highest credit card debt?

California cities dominate the top 10 list based on total and per-capita debt. WalletHub identified Santa Clarita as No. 1 with $1.8 billion in total balances and an average household debt of $23,714.

Other California cities in the top 10 include:

Chula Vista: No. 2 ($20,778 average debt)
Rancho Cucamonga: No. 5 ($19,619 average debt)
Fontana: No. 7 ($19,316 average debt)
Oxnard: No. 8 ($19,277 average debt)
Moreno Valley: No. 9 ($19,127 average debt)
Santa Ana: No. 10 ($19,094 average debt)

Pearl City, Hawaii, New York, and Gilbert, Arizona, are the only non-California cities to round out the top 10.

Did You Know? Santa Clarita ranks first nationally in both average household credit card debt and debt payoff rates.

How does national credit card debt compare to previous peaks?

WalletHub found Americans held $1.4 trillion in credit card debt at the end of the first quarter of 2026, averaging $11,000 per household. This total is $212 billion lower than the inflation-adjusted peak recorded during the 2008 financial crisis.

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The New York Fed provided slightly different data for the same period, reporting that balances dipped by $25 billion to $1.3 trillion. Despite this dip, the New York Fed noted that balances remain more than 60% higher than they were five years ago.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that the correlation between high debt and high payoff rates in cities like Santa Clarita may indicate that these balances reflect a higher spending capacity rather than strictly financial distress.

Why is repayment stress increasing?

Credit card delinquency is hitting a 15-year high. The New York Fed reported that the share of balances at least 90 days delinquent rose to 13.1%, a 0.4 percentage point increase from late 2025.

Cities With the Highest and Lowest Credit Card Debts

Overall household debt surged to $18.8 trillion in the first quarter. The New York Fed attributed this growth primarily to increases in auto loan and mortgage balances.

How does state debt impact California’s political landscape?

Rising debt has led to political scrutiny of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Critics argue residents face heavier financial burdens now than they did under former Gov. Jerry Brown.

Brown left office in 2019 after eliminating the “wall of debt” and reporting a multibillion-dollar surplus. In contrast, critics point to Newsom’s use of more than $20 billion in borrowing from internal special funds to address budget gaps and rising state liabilities.

What may happen next?

Continued increases in delinquency rates could lead to further political pressure regarding state financial management. If household debt remains at record highs, analysts may see a possible shift in consumer spending patterns across the most affected California cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has the highest average credit card debt in the U.S.?
Santa Clarita ranks first with an average household debt of $23,714.

What is the current total U.S. household debt?
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total household debt reached $18.8 trillion in the first quarter.

What is the current delinquency rate for credit cards?
The share of balances at least 90 days delinquent is 13.1%, the highest level in 15 years.

Do you believe high debt levels in certain cities reflect spending power or financial instability?