At the end of the first quarter of this year, the Federal Reserve Bank reported that total U.S. student loan debt topped $1.4 trillion, more than U.S. credit card debt and second only to home mortgages among U.S. households. And as more students pursue post-secondary education and the costs of that education increase, student debt continues to pile up.
The hardest hit is the millennial generation, 18 to 34 year-olds, some of whom dedicate as much as 18% of their incomes to paying off their student loans. In addition, a 2016 report from Citizen’s Bank noted that many millennials expect to be paying student loan debts into their 40s.
Student loan debt does not affect everyone in the same way, however. In some cities, loan levels are high, and salaries are low. The reverse is true in other cities. Researchers at personal finance website WalletHub divided the median student loan balance by the median earnings of adults older than 25 with a bachelor’s degree in nearly 2,000 U.S. cities. The research excludes municipalities in surrounding metropolitan areas.
US Cities With the Most Student Debt
10. Charleston, South Carolina
- Median balance: $20,469
- The average number of loans: 3.9
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 24.4 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 7.0 percent
9. Columbia, South Carolina
- Median balance: $20,560
- The average number of loans: 3.9
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 23.3 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 7.9 percent
8. Jackson, Mississippi
- Median balance: $20,650
- The average number of loans: 4
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 24.8 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 8.7 percent
7. Birmingham, Alabama
- Median balance: $20,679
- The average number of loans: 3.6
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 24.2 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 7.7 percent
6. Little Rock, Arkansas
- Median balance: $21,031
- The average number of loans: 3.8
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 25.9 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 7.6 percent
5. Akron, Ohio
- Median balance: $21,037
- The average number of loans: 3.5
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 23.0 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 6.5 percent
4. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Median balance: $21,357
- The average number of loans: 3.7
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 22.9 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 8.7 percent
3. Richmond, Virginia
- Median balance: $21,915
- The average number of loans: 3.8
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 23.9 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 7.7 percent
2. Atlanta, Georgia
- Median balance: $22,232
- The average number of loans: 3.8
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 26.0 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 9.1 percent
1. Washington, D.C.
- Median balance: $22,803
- The average number of loans: 3.4
- Percentage of borrowers who owe more than $50,000: 25.8 percent
- Share of borrowers who owe more than $100,000: 9.8 percent