These are the States Whose Residents Are Facing the Most Financial Pressure in Six Key Areas

Covering everyday expenses while setting aside money for emergencies remains a challenge for many Americans. But the financial strain varies across states.

A study by The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia comparing 48 U.S. states examined six indicators, including housing costs, income, savings, and overdue credit card debt, to identify where residents face the greatest financial pressure.

Nevada ranked as the state under the most pressure, followed by Mississippi and Louisiana. Florida and California rounded out the five most financially vulnerable states. At the opposite end, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota ranked as the states facing the least pressure, followed by South Dakota and Iowa.

The analysis combined measures of households below basic living costs, households spending at least 30% of their income on housing, adults without three months of emergency savings, adults spending more than they earn, median income for one-person households and credit card balances overdue by at least 90 days.

Nevada's results showed pressure across several categories. The state had the highest percentage of seriously overdue credit card balances in the dataset, at 16.3%. Additionally, 37.7% of households spent at least 30% of their income on housing, while 31% of adults reported spending more than they earned.

In Mississippi, 48% of households fell below the ALICE Threshold, the study's measure of whether income covers necessities. The state also recorded the lowest median income for a one-person household, at $27,205. Nearly two-thirds of adults, 65%, lacked enough emergency savings to cover three months of expenses.

Louisiana had the largest share of households below the basic living cost threshold, at 49%. Its median income for a one-person household was $29,921, while 14.2% of credit card balances were overdue by at least 90 days.

Housing costs featured prominently in California and Florida. California recorded the highest share of households spending at least 30% of their income on housing, at 41.2%, followed by Florida at 38.9%. Both states had 47% of households below the basic living cost threshold.

West Virginia ranked sixth for overall financial pressure and had the highest percentage of adults without three months of emergency savings, at 68%. Yet it also had the lowest share of households spending at least 30% of their income on housing, at 21%, illustrating how the indicators can point in different directions.

New Mexico ranked seventh overall and recorded the highest share of adults spending more than they earned, at 32%. Some 65% lacked three months of emergency savings, and 42% of households fell below the basic living cost threshold.

New York, Rhode Island, and Arizona completed the 10 states facing the greatest pressure. Texas ranked 15th, with 14.2% of credit card balances seriously overdue and one-third of households spending at least 30% of their income on housing.

Among states facing less pressure, Wisconsin had the lowest share of seriously overdue credit card balances, at 8%. Minnesota followed at 8.6%, and both states recorded 23% of adults spending beyond their income.

North Dakota had the smallest percentage of households below the basic living cost threshold, at 31%. Its housing figure was also comparatively low, with 22.4% of households spending at least 30% of their income on housing.