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.
| 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 | Net price locked for the seller before repairs are scoped, so the number is known before shopping for the next home |
| 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
A seller's own credit score has nothing to do with whether their house can sell. The buyer's lender, not the seller's credit history, determines whether the purchase gets funded. A homeowner who can't qualify for a repair loan or a refinance can request a locked net-price offer from a real estate investment company like Cash Flow Deals before repairs are scoped, then let a real FHA or conventional buyer's own lender fund the purchase, with the fee showing up as a separate line item on the closing statement rather than a markup on price.
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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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
No repairs, no showings, no financing contingency on your side — our novation structure connects you with a bank-financed buyer at a price locked at signing. A no-obligation offer, usually within one business day.
See your no-obligation cash offer before you decide anything.