Vermont · New England
Debt consolidation in Vermont
Only 8.99% of card balances in Vermont are seriously late, one of the lowest rates of 51. Borrowers in good standing can shop harder for a low rate.
- $3,790
- card debt per adult, 32nd of 51
- 8.99%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +21.1%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
What Vermont households owe
Card balances per adult are up 21.1% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (46th fastest of 51). Balances fell from $3,130 in 2019 to $2,750 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $3,790 by 2025.
Card debt is the most expensive balance most households carry, which is why it is usually the first target for consolidation. In Vermont, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $15,570 per adult, about the same as the national $15,470.
| Type | VT | US | VT change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $3,790 | $4,350 | +4.1% |
| Auto loans | $6,110 | $5,660 | -0.5% |
| Student loans | $5,670 | $5,460 | -0.7% |
| Mortgages | $34,090 | $44,300 | +2.5% |
| All household debt | $52,910 | $63,200 | +1.9% |
Personal loan rules in Vermont
Vermont caps licensed lender installment loans at 24% on the first $1,000 and 12% above that, or 18% on the whole balance if that is higher. Non-bank lenders need a Vermont lender license.
- Installment loans by licensed lenders: 24% a year on the first $1,000 and 12% on the balance above $1,000, or 18% APR on the whole balance, whichever is higher (8 V.S.A. § 2230(a); 9 V.S.A. ch. 4)
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Vermont at 24% on a $500, six-month loan and 21% on a $2,000, two-year loan (Predatory Installment Lending in the States: How Well Do the States Protect Consumers Against High-Cost Installment Loans?, NCLC, December 2025).
Non-bank lenders need a state license to make these loans. License: Lender license (8 V.S.A. § 2201).
8 V.S.A. § 2201 exempts some small lenders (under $250,000 a year in loans at no more than 12%).
Compare rate caps in every state. Checked 2026-09-30. Summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and banks chartered in other states may follow different rules. Sources: 8 V.S.A. § 2230 Rate of interest; 8 V.S.A. § 2201 Licenses required; Vermont DFR, Lender license; NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (Dec. 2025), Maps 1 and 2 and Appendix C.
Using good standing to get a lower rate
With delinquency in Vermont at 8.99% against 12.36% nationally, many borrowers here have the payment history lenders reward. Compare at least three offers on APR, origination fee and term rather than monthly payment alone, and check whether a 0% balance transfer would clear your balance before the promo ends. How to compare loan offers.
What consolidating could save at VT numbers
Take the Vermont average of $3,790 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $149 a month and the interest about $1,563. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $126 and the interest to about $742, a difference of $821.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $9,500 the same comparison is $3,918 of card interest against $1,859 on the loan. These rates are examples, not offers. Your APR depends on your credit, income and the lender, and an origination fee reduces the savings. See what lenders look for.
Your options in Vermont
- Debt consolidation loan: one fixed payment and end date, worth it when the APR is clearly below your card rates. How to compare offers.
- Balance transfer card: a 0% introductory APR can beat a loan if you can clear the balance before the promo ends. Balance transfer vs personal loan.
- Debt management plan: a nonprofit credit counseling agency negotiates lower rates with your card issuers. Useful if you cannot qualify for a loan. DMP vs consolidation.
Vermont next to its neighbors
Among the 6 New England states, Vermont has the 5th highest card debt per adult.
- Connecticut: $4,960 per adult, 10.53% 90+ days late
- Massachusetts: $4,650 per adult, 10.33% 90+ days late
- New Hampshire: $4,500 per adult, 9.84% 90+ days late
- Rhode Island: $4,490 per adult, 11.38% 90+ days late
- Vermont: $3,790 per adult, 8.99% 90+ days late
- Maine: $3,760 per adult, 9.83% 90+ days late
How many Vermont borrowers are behind
8.99% of credit card balances in Vermont were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 3.4 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Vermont 49th of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 0.9 points in the past year, from 8.11% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 5.78%.
Auto loan delinquency in Vermont stood at 2.84% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 7.48% (US 8.25%). If your payments are current, you are in a better position to qualify for a lower rate. If not, read our guide to consolidation loans with bad credit .
Checking a lender in Vermont
Non-bank consumer lenders in Vermont are licensed by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR). Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, file with the Vermont Attorney General, Consumer Assistance Program or the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Vermont debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Vermont have?
$3,790 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 13% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 32nd of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Vermont falling behind on credit cards?
8.99% of card balances in Vermont were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 5.78% in 2019 (up 3.2 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Vermont pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $3,790 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,563 in interest and a 12% loan about $742. Rates depend on your credit and the lender, loans are not available in every state, and fees can shrink the savings.
What rate can a borrower in good standing in Vermont expect?
Rates depend mostly on your score, income and debt-to-income ratio, and state rules can cap what lenders charge. Borrowers with strong credit are offered the lowest APRs, so compare several lenders and look at the fee as well as the rate.
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax, State Level Household Debt Statistics 2003-2025 (February 2026), Q4 figures per adult with a credit file. Ranks and changes computed by Smart Debt Relief across 50 states and DC. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Full state table and CSV.