Across the country, families are struggling to keep their heads above water with varying degrees of success. Some states are in better shape than others. So WalletHub took a look at “Cities Paying Off the Most Household Debt,” in a recent report. Those living in some California cities appear to be having the most success.

If your own household debt situation is giving you a sinking feeling about how well Ohio cities performed, you see where this is going.

In the report listing 182 cities, Ohio had three in the bottom 10 (Akron at 174, Toledo at 179 and Cleveland at 181). Columbus landed at 152, Cincinnati at 146 — and that’s the highest placement for Ohio on the list.

For most of the country, according to WalletHub, there was a $73 billion inflation-adjusted decline in household debt in the first quarter of 2025. So what’s going on in Ohio?

Households in Ohio do not make enough money to be “responsible” with their credit, according to the report. Mortgages, student, auto and personal loans, and credit cards are weights that feel both more necessary and harder to shrug off.

Of course, some households could benefit from a little education in personal finance. Spending responsibly is important.

But a much larger problem is that, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the average household income in the Buckeye State is 14% below the national average. That’s something lawmakers need to consider as they work this year.