Folks in 3 GA cities have some of worst credit scores in US on average. See how yours compare?

Your credit score follows you everywhere, from mortgage applications to apartment rentals to job interviews and a new national study from Wallet hub shows where a few Georgia cities stand compared to the rest of the country. The highest a credit score can go is 850, but only 1.7% of consumers have a “perfect” FICO score., according to a recent MyFICO report.

WalletHub pulled anonymized credit data from TransUnion, one of the three major credit bureaus, looking at the median credit scores of residents of 182 cities and Atlanta, Columbus and Augusta found their way to the bottom half of the rankings.

Georgia’s credit report card

According to an Upgraded Points analysis, the average credit card debt in Georgia was $6,757, and 16.5% of cardholders had severely delinquent debt (90+ days overdue), the 3rd highest delinquency rate in the nation.

Georgia city rankings:

• Columbus average score 595 - 173 (tied): The wealth gap in Columbus is one of the widest in the state, indicating a huge difference between the richest and poorest in the state.
• Augusta average score 595 - 173 (tied): Roughly 17% to 21% of residents in Augusta-Richmond County live below the poverty line.
• Atlanta average score 628 - tied for 97: Atlanta ranks as the second-highest city where young people are struggling with credit card debt, with more than 20% of cardholders being more than 90 days delinquent.

The top and bottom of the rankings

Credit scores have real impact because it can affect borrowing costs, dictate options for families trying to build wealth, and create an even steeper climb out of debt for residents with lower scores.

Highest scores:

• South Burlington, Vermont: 697
• Fremont, California: 688
• Scottsdale, Arizona: 688
• Port St. Lucie, Florida: 687
• San Francisco, California: 686

Lowest scores:

• Detroit, Michigan: 570
• Shreveport, Louisiana: 590
• Jackson, Mississippi: 591
• Fayetteville, North Carolina: 592
• Memphis, Tennessee: 593

How credit scores are calculated

Credit scores boil down to a simple formula lenders use to predict your risk, but the details behind the numbers can make or break your financial options.

Most scores run on a 300–850 scale, with higher numbers meaning lenders see you as less risky and reward you with better interest rates and loan offers. Higher scores make it easier to qualify for mortgages, car loans and credit cards at lower rates.

FICO looks at five main things:

• Timely payments
• Credit usage within limits
• Account history
• Kinds of credit carried
• Frequency of new applications

VantageScore assign values:

• Fair = 600s
• Good = mid‑600s to mid‑700s
• Excellent = high‑700s and up

Raise and protect your credit score

Financial complications can make a credit score seem like a high bar to clear, but steady habits can pay off over time.

Here are a few tips from the Federal Trade Commission that could help you get back on track

• Pay every bill on time: payment history is the single biggest factor (35% of your FICO score
• Keep credit card balances low: aim for under 30% of your limit (ideally 10%)
• Pull your free credit reports from the Annual Credit Report site and dispute errors: fixing wrong information can bump your score fast
• Limit new credit applications: too many inquiries signal risk and can drop your score
• Build smart credit mix over time: a blend of cards, loans and payments shows responsibility (10-15% of your score)

Times are hard, and it is so expensive to be alive right now, but small steps can turn things around.

If you have any tips or ideas for what I should cover, email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.