Augusta's Credit Scores Rank Among the Worst in the U.S.
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-05
A new WalletHub study using TransUnion data ranks Augusta's average credit score at 595, tied for 173rd out of 182 U.S. cities studied. Georgia cardholders carry an average $6,757 in credit card debt, and 16.5% are severely delinquent, the third-highest rate in the nation. Roughly a fifth of Augusta-Richmond County residents live below the poverty line. If your credit or repair costs make selling feel out of reach, you can compare the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, with the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. You choose.
| Factor | Traditional Listing | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| Financing risk for the seller's next move | A low credit score can complicate qualifying for a new mortgage while still carrying the old one | With your Fast Cash Offer or Premium Cash Offer, the number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree, so you know your number before shopping for your next home. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. |
| Path to a funded closing when local credit is tight | Buyer pool narrows if area credit conditions push more financed offers to fall through | A vetted FHA or conventional buyer's own lender funds the purchase |
| Debt pressure while the home sits on market | Carrying costs and card balances keep growing the longer a listing sits unsold | Moves toward a set closing timeline instead of an open-ended listing |
What the New Ranking Found
A WalletHub study pulling anonymized TransUnion credit data across 182 U.S. cities placed Augusta's median credit score at 595, tied for 173rd, in the bottom quarter nationally. Columbus, Georgia landed in the exact same spot, also 595 and tied for 173rd. Atlanta scored somewhat better at 628, tied for 97th. For comparison, the report's highest-scoring city was South Burlington, Vermont at 697, while the lowest was Detroit at 570. Beyond the city rankings, a separate Upgraded Points analysis cited in the coverage found Georgia's average credit card debt at $6,757, with 16.5% of cardholders severely delinquent, 90-plus days past due, the third-highest delinquency rate of any state in the country. Augusta-Richmond County's poverty rate runs roughly 17% to 21% depending on the area measured.
Why This Matters for Richmond County Homeowners
A low median credit score paired with the nation's third-highest severe card delinquency rate points to real financial strain for a meaningful share of Richmond County households. That combination makes it harder to qualify for a home equity loan to fund repairs, harder to refinance out of a high mortgage rate, and more likely that a missed card payment turns into a missed mortgage payment when money gets tight. A homeowner already stretched on credit card debt has less room to absorb a surprise repair bill or a property tax increase without falling behind.
What a Richmond County Homeowner Under Credit Pressure Can Do
Your own credit score does not determine whether your house can sell. The buyer's lender, not your credit history, determines whether their purchase gets funded. If you can't qualify for a repair loan or a refinance, Cash Flow Deals gives you two choices: the Fast Cash Offer, where we buy your house as-is and close, and the Premium Cash Offer, where a pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have, ready to go, pays more and buys directly from you. You choose. We cover repair costs, and we figure out a way, so nothing comes out of your pocket. With Premium, only what the buyer's lender requires gets fixed, with repair costs settled from the sale proceeds out of our share; with Fast Cash, you sell as-is without making repairs. The number is agreed before any work starts, and it changes only if you agree. The one exception: if something structural surfaces that was not visible or disclosed before we signed — foundation issues, hidden moisture, old wiring, cast-iron drain failure — we re-cost it and bring the number back to you. You decide. You can walk away. We disclose what we know at offer time so this almost never happens. With Premium, the buyer's lender funds the purchase, and our fee appears as a separate line item on the closing statement rather than a markup on price. If the buyer's loan falls through, that is our problem, not yours, and you can still take the Fast Cash Offer at its own number alongside your Premium Cash Offer choice.
Common questions
What is Augusta's average credit score?
595, tied for 173rd out of 182 U.S. cities in a WalletHub study using TransUnion data.
How does Augusta compare to the rest of Georgia?
Columbus also averages 595, tied for 173rd, while Atlanta averages 628, tied for 97th.
How bad is Georgia's credit card delinquency?
16.5% of Georgia cardholders are 90-plus days delinquent, the third-highest rate in the nation, per an Upgraded Points analysis cited in the WalletHub coverage.
Does a low credit score stop someone from selling their house?
No. A seller's credit score doesn't determine whether their home can be sold to a real, lender-approved buyer.
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This affects sellers in
What this means for your options
Local market conditions like this affect how easily a traditional, financed sale closes. The risk doesn't disappear, it just shows up later in the process, usually at inspection or appraisal.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
Two offers for your house, Fast Cash or Premium Cash, and you choose. Cash: Cash Flow Deals buys the house as-is and closes. Premium: More money. A pre-approved FHA or conventional buyer we already have buys directly from you.
See both offers before you decide anything.