Debt is a near-universal experience in the United States, with 77% of Americans carrying some form of debt, according to the Federal Reserve Board. The average American household debt has reached $104,755 as of mid-2025, with total U.S. household debt reaching a record high of $18.8 trillion in Q4 2025.

Mortgage Debt

Mortgage balances make up approximately 70% of all household debt in the country, with total mortgage balances standing at $13.17 trillion as of Q4 2025. The average mortgage balance per borrower is $268,060, with a median monthly payment of approximately $2,025.

Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is another significant contributor to household debt, with total credit card balances reaching $1.28 trillion in Q4 2025. The average American credit card debt per borrower was $6,523 in Q3 2025, with average APRs at 19.57% as of April 2026.

Auto Loan Debt

Auto loan debt is the third-largest household debt category in the U.S., with total auto loan balances reaching $1.67 trillion in Q4 2025. The average American auto loan balance is $24,602, with average new car payments at $748 per month and average used car payments at $532 per month.

Student Loan Debt

Student loan debt affects over 43 million Americans, with the average borrower carrying between $37,400 and $43,300 in student loan debt. Repayment hasn’t always kept pace with these balances, with the serious delinquency rate reaching 7.74% of aggregate student debt.

Debt doesn’t look the same at every stage of life, with adults between 40 and 49 carrying the most total debt, about four times more than adults between 18 and 29. Rising debt levels have come with a rise in delinquencies, with 4.8% of outstanding debt in some stage of delinquency as of Q4 2025.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.