States with the Best — and Worst — US Credit Scores Revealed

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California residents have the highest credit scores in the nation, with an average credit score of 754, according to new research. Mississippi comes in last in the nation with an average credit score of 686, according to the research by Mortgage Marvel, which found that California mortgage applicants, for the second year in a row, have the highest average credit scores in the nation.

The information was compiled by analyzing more than 330,000 mortgage applications received in 2011 by clients.

Of the states with the highest average credit scores, four are located in the West and five are in the Northeast. There was only one state in the top 10, Wisconsin, from another region (Midwest).

[Americans' 2012 Financial Resolutions]

Credit Score Ranking - Top 10 U.S. States

1          California (754)

2          Oregon (750)

3          Wisconsin  (749)

4          Hawaii  (748 )

5          Connecticut  (745)

6          Rhode Island (745)

7          New Hampshire (741)

8          Washington (741)

9          Massachusetts (740)

10        Maryland (740)

The Southeast occupied five of the 10 lowest credit score positions. Mississippi, for the second year in a row, had the nation's lowest average credit score.

Credit Score Ranking - Bottom 10 U.S. States

41        Tennessee (708)

42        Michigan (708)

43        Kentucky (708)

44        Alaska (706)

45        Wyoming (704)

46        Oklahoma (701)

47        Louisiana (698)

48        West Virginia (697)

49        Arkansas (691)

50        Mississippi (686)