😟 This is How Much Debt U.S. Households Are Carrying Relative to Their Income - Voronoi
Oct 31, 2025
😟 This is How Much Debt U.S. Households Are Carrying Relative to Their Income
Key Takeaways
Hawaii and Idaho have the highest debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of the states at 2.06, which means households carry about $2 in debt for every $1 in annual income.
A state’s DTI ratio is the aggregate household debt divided by aggregate household income.
Debt includes mortgages, autos, credit cards, etc., and excludes student loans.
Income is based on unemployment insurance-covered wages, as reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
High Ratio States (~1.7–2.1) are often places with expensive housing or fast population growth (bigger mortgages, newer borrowers) like Hawaii and Arizona.
Low Ratio States are usually states with older or paid-down mortgages, lower home prices, or higher incomes relative to debt.
⚠️ Data Caveats
Student loans are excluded, so younger households’ true burden may be understated.
Income measure is UI-covered wages (not total personal income), which can overstate the burden in states withhigh-capital-income areas (like finance-heavy metros).
