The State of Household Finances: American Money Across 5 States
Our perspectives on money are shaped by numerous factors, including where we live. In a country of over 331 million people, there are bound to be unique financial situations. A recent NerdWallet survey conducted by YouGov in June 2026 examined how finances across five of the most populous states differ.
We asked about everything from savings to raising children, credit cards to college. As it turns out, people in California, Florida, Georgia, New York and Texas are coping with many of the same concerns, as well as some more unique to the places they live.
Managing the costs of living
Affordability is a concern across households in 2026. Roughly 2 in 5 adults in Georgia (40%) and New York (39%) say they’ve stressed about their ability to cover basic living expenses within the last 12 months. Not having enough money for essentials can drive people to rely on debt, and in the worst scenarios, overdraw their accounts.
Some residents may recognize that the costs in their state specifically are inflated when compared with others. For example, 20% of California and New York adults say they’ve considered moving to another state due to the cost of living in the last 12 months.
It can be difficult to plan for the future when you’re struggling with today’s costs. Unfortunately, roughly one in five respondents don’t have a financial plan in place for their family, across all states surveyed. Still, 30% of Californians and 31% of Texans are able to regularly save a portion of their income.
Credit cards can be a useful tool if you’re able to pay off your balance each month. But used in place of an emergency fund or to live beyond your means, high credit card interest rates can make getting out of debt very difficult. Further, that debt may carry a stigma: One-in-five adults in Georgia (20%) have felt embarrassed about their current level of credit card debt in the past 12 months.
Many people choose to go to college in order to boost their lifetime earning power, but not everyone is convinced their higher education is translating to a higher salary.
Half of Californians say home prices are out of control in their state, according to the survey. And among many residents who already own their homes, homeowners insurance is a rising concern.
Travel and credit card rewards
Despite affordability challenges across housing, raising a family and the general costs of living, Americans across states continue to spend on travel. Though some are adjusting those plans due to rising costs.
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