Mortgage Debt Rises Fastest in Alaska, Delaware, and Maine, WalletHub Finds

WalletHub’s Q3-Q4 2025 analysis identified Alaska, Delaware and Maine as the three states with the largest percentage increases in average mortgage balances. Alaska’s average rose 2.52 % to $248,013 (monthly $2,078). Alaska also faces relatively high property tax rates. Delaware’s grew 2.51 % to $210,542 (monthly $1,689) and ranked 33rd nationally for overall affordability. Maine’s increased 1.98 % to $209,936 (monthly $1,723).

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WalletHub ranked all 50 states on a 100-point scale, weighting change in mortgage debt at 70 points and average balance plus payment at 30 points. The analysis used data from the third to fourth quarter of 2025, with data collected through April 2 2025.

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The analysis was produced by WalletHub, a personal-finance website whose editorial team is led by editor John Kiernan. ConsumerAffairs, a consumer-advocacy outlet, supplied complementary debt-trend data drawn from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

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Mortgage debt remains the largest consumer-debt category in the United States, with an average household mortgage liability of $109,000 and total balances of $13.2 trillion at the end of 2025.

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ConsumerAffairs reported average individual debt rising from $32,840 in 2003 to $63,200 in 2025, yielding a debt-to-income ratio of 139.6 % based on an estimated average income of $45,256. The report noted that the average individual debt more than doubled between 2003 and 2025, reflecting a broader expansion of consumer credit. Utah posted the highest ratio at 199 %.

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Overall delinquency rates for mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and student loans stayed below national averages, yet Louisiana recorded the highest serious mortgage delinquency at 1.83 %. Nevada’s credit-card delinquency was 16.3 % and Mississippi’s student-loan delinquency 13.4 %.

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WalletHub noted that decade-high mortgage rates combined with rapid home-price gains can add thousands of dollars in interest costs, making timing and location critical for prospective buyers.

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WalletHub’s report concluded that the combination of high rates and fast-rising home prices is driving the observed balance increases in Alaska, Delaware and Maine. The organization emphasized the need for consumers to assess affordability carefully when entering the market.

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The analysis does not provide delinquency data specific to Alaska, Delaware or Maine, nor explain the underlying drivers of their balance growth beyond general rate and price trends. Future mortgage-rate movements and their impact on these patterns remain unaddressed.

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“Mortgage rates are the highest they’ve been in around a decade, and home prices have seen a meteoric rise in recent years as well. Even small increases in home prices can lead to thousands of dollars in extra mortgage interest costs for homeowners, so it’s important to choose wisely when deciding where and when to buy a house,” — John Kiernan, WalletHub editor

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