Can the Average Person in Your State Pay off Their Debt?
It can take more than a decade to become debt-free in more than a dozen U.S. states and that’s with paying off 20% each month, according to a new MoneyLion study.
And if you can only put 15% towards paying off debt every month? Research indicates it takes the average person in every U.S. state a minimum of 10 years, even upwards to 20 years or more, to fully repay their debt.
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To determine how long it takes the average person to pay off their debt in America, MoneyLion sourced the 2025 average consumer debt for every state from Experian’s 2025 data. This debt includes mortgage, HELOC, student loans, auto loans, personal loans, credit cards and retail cards. Each state’s median household income was sourced and calculated for how long it would take the median household to pay off the average consumer debt for its state at 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% and 2.5% monthly increments. For this piece, researchers looked at 20% and 15% of monthly income by referring to the traditional 50/30/20 budgeting rule.
Key Findings
The average person can repay their debt the fastest in Ohio. It takes seven years to pay the average consumer debt of $74,753 if you put 20% of your monthly income towards it and 10 years and nine months at 15%.
It can take more than 30 years to become debt-free in Colorado. The Centennial State has the highest consumer debt in the nation ($155,945) which breaks down to spending 14 years and three months (20%) and a jaw-dropping 32 years and seven months (15%) until you’re completely out of debt.
Americans who put 20% of their income towards debt every month will be debt-free in less than eight years in 16 states. These states include Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, Kansas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Vermont, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kentucky.
It takes 20+ years in 11 states to get out of consumer debt, if you’re only paying 15% monthly. The states with the longest timelines are Nevada (24 years, five months), California (24 years, 11 months), Washington (25 years, six months), Idaho (29 years, 10 months) and Colorado (32 years, seven months).
Here’s how long it takes the average person to pay off debt in every U.S. state.
1. Ohio
Median household income: $71,389
2025 average consumer debt: $74,753
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,190
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 84
15% of income towards debt monthly: $892
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 129
2. Illinois
Median household income: $83,390
2025 average consumer debt: $87,781
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,390
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 85
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,042
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 130
3. Michigan
Median household income: $72,875
2025 average consumer debt: $77,339
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,215
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 86
15% of income towards debt monthly: $911
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 132
4. New Jersey
Median household income: $103,556
2025 average consumer debt: $110,757
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,726
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 87
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,294
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 134
5. West Virginia
Median household income: $59,608
2025 average consumer debt: $64,263
20% of income towards debt monthly: $993
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 88
15% of income towards debt monthly: $745
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 136
6. Iowa
Median household income: $75,059
2025 average consumer debt: $81,285
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,251
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 88
15% of income towards debt monthly: $938
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 137
7. Pennsylvania
Median household income: $77,971
2025 average consumer debt: $84,482
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,300
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 88
15% of income towards debt monthly: $975
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 137
8. New York
Median household income: $85,974
2025 average consumer debt: $94,065
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,433
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 90
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,075
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 139
9. New Hampshire
Median household income: $99,031
2025 average consumer debt: $108,801
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,651
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 90
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,238
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 140
10. Kansas
Median household income: $74,275
2025 average consumer debt: $81,605
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,238
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 90
15% of income towards debt monthly: $928
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 140
11. Indiana
Median household income: $71,957
2025 average consumer debt: $79,756
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,199
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 91
15% of income towards debt monthly: $899
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 142
12. Wisconsin
Median household income: $77,485
2025 average consumer debt: $86,216
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,291
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 92
15% of income towards debt monthly: $969
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 143
13. Vermont
Median household income: $81,203
2025 average consumer debt: $91,093
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,353
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 93
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,015
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 145
14. Nebraska
Median household income: $76,475
2025 average consumer debt: $86,466
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,275
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 94
15% of income towards debt monthly: $956
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 147
15. Oklahoma
Median household income: $65,039
2025 average consumer debt: $73,877
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,084
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 94
15% of income towards debt monthly: $813
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 148
16. Kentucky
Median household income: $63,726
2025 average consumer debt: $72,884
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,062
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 95
15% of income towards debt monthly: $797
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 150
17. Mississippi
Median household income: $56,447
2025 average consumer debt: $64,930
20% of income towards debt monthly: $941
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 96
15% of income towards debt monthly: $706
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 152
18. Connecticut
Median household income: $95,781
2025 average consumer debt: $111,080
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,596
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 97
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,197
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 154
19. Missouri
Median household income: $70,702
2025 average consumer debt: $82,730
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,178
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 99
15% of income towards debt monthly: $884
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 156
20. Rhode Island
Median household income: $87,796
2025 average consumer debt: $102,954
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,463
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 99
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,097
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 157
21. Minnesota
Median household income: $89,062
2025 average consumer debt: $106,408
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,484
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 102
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,113
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 163
22. North Dakota
Median household income: $76,657
2025 average consumer debt: $91,872
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,278
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 102
15% of income towards debt monthly: $958
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 164
23. Maine
Median household income: $74,733
2025 average consumer debt: $90,252
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,246
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 103
15% of income towards debt monthly: $934
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 166
24. Alabama
Median household income: $63,999
2025 average consumer debt: $78,929
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,067
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 106
15% of income towards debt monthly: $800
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 173
25. Georgia
Median household income: $77,353
2025 average consumer debt: $95,588
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,289
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 107
15% of income towards debt monthly: $967
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 174
26. Arkansas
Median household income: $60,773
2025 average consumer debt: $75,584
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,013
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 108
15% of income towards debt monthly: $760
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 176
27. South Dakota
Median household income: $75,081
2025 average consumer debt: $93,472
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,251
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 108
15% of income towards debt monthly: $939
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 176
28. Texas
Median household income: $78,476
2025 average consumer debt: $98,401
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,308
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 109
15% of income towards debt monthly: $981
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 179
29. Maryland
Median household income: $103,678
2025 average consumer debt: $130,784
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,728
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 110
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,296
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 181
30. Delaware
Median household income: $84,954
2025 average consumer debt: $107,183
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,416
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 110
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,062
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 181
31. Massachusetts
Median household income: $103,960
2025 average consumer debt: $131,721
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,733
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 111
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,300
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 182
32. Alaska
Median household income: $92,788
2025 average consumer debt: $117,685
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,546
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 111
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,160
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 183
33. Louisiana
Median household income: $60,756
2025 average consumer debt: $78,687
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,013
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 115
15% of income towards debt monthly: $759
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 191
34. Florida
Median household income: $74,568
2025 average consumer debt: $97,943
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,243
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 117
15% of income towards debt monthly: $932
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 197
35. New Mexico
Median household income: $64,059
2025 average consumer debt: $85,778
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,068
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 121
15% of income towards debt monthly: $801
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 206
36. North Carolina
Median household income: $72,388
2025 average consumer debt: $98,630
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,206
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 124
15% of income towards debt monthly: $905
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 214
37. Virginia
Median household income: $93,170
2025 average consumer debt: $127,809
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,553
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 125
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,165
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 217
38. South Carolina
Median household income: $69,324
2025 average consumer debt: $95,166
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,155
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 126
15% of income towards debt monthly: $867
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 218
39. Tennessee
Median household income: $69,595
2025 average consumer debt: $95,892
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,160
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 126
15% of income towards debt monthly: $870
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 220
40. Montana
Median household income: $72,509
2025 average consumer debt: $105,924
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,208
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 139
15% of income towards debt monthly: $906
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 256
41. Wyoming
Median household income: $76,176
2025 average consumer debt: $112,066
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,270
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 141
15% of income towards debt monthly: $952
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 261
42. Arizona
Median household income: $79,964
2025 average consumer debt: $117,762
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,333
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 141
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,000
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 262
43. Hawaii
Median household income: $100,389
2025 average consumer debt: $148,492
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,673
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 142
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,255
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 266
44. Oregon
Median household income: $83,011
2025 average consumer debt: $123,659
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,384
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 144
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,038
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 271
45. Utah
Median household income: $95,166
2025 average consumer debt: $143,728
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,586
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 148
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,190
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 283
46. Nevada
Median household income: $78,260
2025 average consumer debt: $119,361
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,304
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 150
15% of income towards debt monthly: $978
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 293
47. California
Median household income: $99,122
2025 average consumer debt: $152,123
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,652
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 152
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,239
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 299
48. Washington
Median household income: $98,141
2025 average consumer debt: $151,635
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,636
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 154
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,227
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 306
49. Idaho
Median household income: $77,800
2025 average consumer debt: $124,928
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,297
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 165
15% of income towards debt monthly: $973
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 358
50. Colorado
Median household income: $95,470
2025 average consumer debt: $155,945
20% of income towards debt monthly: $1,591
# of months to pay off debt at 20%: 171
15% of income towards debt monthly: $1,193
# of months of pay off debt at 15%: 391
Methodology: For this piece MoneyLion first sourced the 2025 average consumer debt (mortgage, HELOC, student loans, auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, and retail cards) for every state from Experian’s 2025 data. MoneyLion then found each state’s median household income as sourced from the 2024 American Community Survey as conducted by the US Census Bureau. MoneyLion then calculated how long it would take the median household to pay off the 2025 average consumer debt for its state paying down the debt at 20%,15%, 10%, 5%, and 2.5% respectively. Interest was calculated at 8.62% by averaging out the national rates of the seven consumer debt categories and scoring retail cards 0.25x and credit cards 0.5x as they held the highest APRs with the lowest debt amounts. All data was collected and is up to date as of October 8, 2026.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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