10 States With the Highest Credit Card Debt Per Person

By Christian Hudspeth

The credit card bill.

Whether you love it or hate it, if you've got a card -- and 2010 Census Bureau projections estimate that 181 million Americans do -- you likely see one in your mail or inbox every month. 

Some card holders won't feel the stinging interest charges, though. A 2009 study from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation said that 49% of credit card holders don't carry a balance. Many in this camp are just using credit cards to build credit or simply as a convenience. Many more use cards to rack up reward points for vacation and cash back perks. 

But a small majority of card holders do carry a balance on their credit cards, the study reported. And the debts can be significant. According to the Federal Reserve, Americans had more than $800 billion in outstanding credit card debt at the end of 2011. 

So how much credit card debt do most people really have? That all depends on the state you're talking about.  

Here are the top 10 states that held the most credit card debt per capita at the end of 2011, according to a February 2012 report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York:

10. Massachusetts -- $3,360 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,430
  2006: $3,680
  2001: $3,000

 

 

 

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9. Virginia -- $3,400 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,450
  2006: $3,380
  2001: $3,140

 

 

 

8. Maryland -- $3,420 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,490
  2006: $3,390
  2001: $3,150

 

 

 

7. New York -- $3,440 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,510
  2006: $3,730
  2001: $3,210

 

 

 

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6. New Hampshire -- $3,450 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,510
  2006: $3,750
  2001: $2,950

 

 

 

5. Connecticut -- $3,510 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,540
  2006: $3,660
  2001: $3,100

 

 

 

4. Colorado -- $3,560 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,720
  2006: $3,880
  2001: $3,030

 

 

 

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3. Hawaii -- $3,580 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,650
  2006: $3,650
  2001: $3,080

 

 

 

2. New Jersey -- $3,690 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $3,690
  2006: $3,780
  2001: $3,360

 

 

 

1. Arkansas -- $4,060 in credit card debt per capita in 2011

 Previous years' totals:
  2010: $4,180
  2006: $4,510
  2001: $3,540

 

 

 

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