Midwest residents on average have stellar credit scores, according to nationwide rankings for metropolitan areas released today by Experian, one of three agencies that track credit scores.

Cedar Rapids came in third among the top 10 metros listed, with an average credit score of 781 on a scale of 501 to 990. Leading the list of cities with the highest average scores were Minneapolis, Minn., and Madison, Wis., with average scores of 787 and 785, respectively. At the bottom of the spectrum were Harlingen, Texas, Jackson, Miss., and Corpus Christi, Texas, with scores ranging from 684 to 700.   

Though Greater Des Moines did not make the top 10 list, it had a high average score of 771. According to the report, residents in the Des Moines area have 1.78 open credit cards on average, and carry an average debt of $24,374.

“Certainly, the troubled economy has impacted us all in different ways, and we’re now seeing how it is affecting credit scores – which are a critical factor in determining a person’s ability to access affordable credit,” Experian Executive Vice President Peg Smith said in a press release.

Though no one factor determines an individual’s credit score, the repercussions of the recession are likely playing some role. Not only do major setbacks such as foreclosures have major negative impacts on credit scores, but simple behaviors such as missing bill payments are among the most common factors that drag down credit scores.

 “Late payments and delinquencies such as foreclosures drive lower credit scores, and the State of Credit data shows that unemployment has been a major factor in contributing to higher delinquencies,” Smith said. “Certainly anyone who has lost a job understands how such a life event could affect their ability to pay their bills on time.”