If money has been feeling tighter lately, you are far from alone. A Gallup poll found that only 16% of Americans consider themselves financially fulfilled. Another 32% describe themselves as outright financially stressed.
But where you live makes a real difference. A new analysis from WalletHub ranked all 50 states by the financial distress felt by their residents. The results are eye-opening.
The States Under the Most Pressure
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Florida
- Texas
- South Carolina
Kansas came in at number one. WalletHub found that Kansans are searching online for terms like “debt” and “loans” at unusually high rates. The state also saw roughly a 12% increase in non-business bankruptcy filings over the past year.
Four of the top five most-stressed states are in the South. Those states showed high numbers of residents with accounts in distress or credit accounts with deferred payments. Florida and Texas also stood out for dramatic changes in bankruptcy filings between March 2025 and March 2026.
North Carolina and Georgia also cracked the top 10. Mississippi ranked 11th and Alabama 14th.
The States Feeling the Least Strain
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Hawaii
- Vermont
- Michigan
New England dominates the calmer end of the list. Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont all landed in the top five, with New Hampshire not far behind in the top 10.
Maine ranked especially well on credit scores, accounts in distress, and online search activity. Residents there searched for “debt” and “loans” far less than people in most other states. Maine also saw the smallest change in bankruptcy filings between March 2025 and March 2026.
Michigan stood out among Great Lakes states. It posted the lowest rate of residents with accounts in distress and the lowest average number of distressed accounts per person. Wisconsin and Illinois also made the least-stressed top 10.
The Bigger Picture for All of Us
No matter the state, financial worry is widespread. In the same Gallup survey, 51% of U.S. and Canadian adults said they feel financially conflicted, not quite fulfilled, not quite distressed, but stuck somewhere in between.
When Gallup asked Americans what their biggest financial concern is, the cost of living came out on top. A full 31% named it as their number one worry. Energy costs and housing costs each came in at 13%. Healthcare costs were the top concern for 8% of respondents.
Those last two, housing and healthcare, hit especially close to home for many of us at this stage of life. It helps to know the landscape, even when the numbers are hard to look at.