How Does Your Town Score on Credit Scores?

Recently, the Clarion Ledger newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi reported the results of a Wallethub.com study. Wallethub.com is a personal finance website. The study used information from TransUnion to compile the average credit scores of the residents of several towns and cities across America.

According to the article, the average credit score across the nation is right at 700. Scores range from a low of 300 to a high of 850. A score of 650 or higher is usually considered good credit.

How Did Mississippi Cities Score?

Some Mississippi cities posted healthy scores. Madison, Mississippi scored 745 putting that city on par with San Francisco and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Brandon, Mississippi scored 705 putting it in the same company as Asheville, North Carolina.

Mississippi cities at 650 or higher included:

• Biloxi - 663
• Hattiesburg - 659
• Brookhaven - 653
• Pearl - 650
• Vicksburg - 650
• Picayune - 650

The capital city of Jackson scored 598.

Why Do I Need a Credit Score?

Credit scores are often used by employers, landlords, and insurance companies. A person’s credit score is affected by factors such as debt payment history, income level, amount of outstanding debt, job history, and other factors. The higher one’s score, the better.

For example, higher scores generally allow access to loans at lower interest rates. On the other hand, a low credit score can affect eligibility for jobs and access to housing.

Low credit scores can be improved by timely paying debt and maintaining steady employment. For those who have low scores due to overwhelming debt, a good strategy may be to file for debt relief under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 or another appropriate chapter of the Bankruptcy Code.

Of course, the filing of a formal debt relief case will, in the beginning, be very damaging to an individual with a decent credit score. But, in the long run, reducing or eliminating debt through formal debt relief can lead to a dramatic improvement in a person’s credit score.

Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney for Debt Help Today

We always advise persons consulting with us to pay their debts timely if possible. Seeking formal debt relief is appropriate only for those persons who truly are unable to pay their debts.

If you think that you may need to consider formal debt relief, do not attempt it on your own. You must seek competent legal advice from a lawyer knowledgeable in debt relief law. Our lawyers offer a free, private consultation to discuss your overall situation and identify your best options.