Interest rates on most types of loans have been lower since the start of the pandemic, but are still an important factor in who and where to get a loan from.
We wanted to understand which states have the lowest and highest interest rates for three major types of loans: used auto, mortgage, and personal loans. To do this, we analyzed the data which RateBunni gathers to see if any trends were emerging. Here are our findings about the lowest interest rates advertised by hundreds of lenders across the country.
Key Findings:
- Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota are tied for the lowest average mortgage rate (2.45%). North Dakota also has the lowest average rate for a used-car loan (1.99%).
- Alabama has the lowest average personal loan rate (5.89%).
- All of the states with the highest rates in each product category are Northeastern states — Delaware has the highest average mortgage rate (3.93%), Rhode Island has the highest average auto loan rate (5.46%), and Maine has the highest personal loan rate (11.95%).
Mortgage Rates
It’s the biggest purchase most people will make in their lifetimes, so getting a great interest rate can be the difference between buying the home of your dreams or having to stay out of the market entirely.
Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota have the lowest average mortgage loan rate, each at 2.46%, which is considerably lower than the national average of 3.07%.
Delaware has the highest mortgage rates, an average of 3.93%. Given the size of the average mortgage, which is continuing to rise in most places across the country, the savings can be significant.
For example, for a mortgage of $240,000, someone buying a home in North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, or South Dakota (at 2.46% APR) would pay almost $78 less per month than a counterpart in Delaware (at 3.07% APR) due to their lower interest rate, which is about $28,000 over a 30-year mortgage term.
Mortgage Rates
It’s the biggest purchase most people will make in their lifetimes, so getting a great interest rate can be the difference between buying the home of your dreams or having to stay out of the market entirely.
Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota have the lowest average mortgage loan rate, each at 2.46%, which is considerably lower than the national average of 3.07%.
Delaware has the highest mortgage rates, an average of 3.93%. Given the size of the average mortgage, which is continuing to rise in most places across the country, the savings can be significant.
For example, for a mortgage of $240,000, someone buying a home in North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, or South Dakota (at 2.46% APR) would pay almost $78 less per month than a counterpart in Delaware (at 3.07% APR) due to their lower interest rate, which is about $28,000 over a 30-year mortgage term.
Used Auto Loan Rates
Though it’s less of a long-term financial commitment than purchasing a house, getting a great interest rate on an auto loan is just as important. The average new-car buyer holds on to their vehicle for about six years, and likely even longer in the near future.
The average U.S. interest rate for a used car is 3.46%, with North Dakota (1.99%) and Rhode Island (5.46%) falling on the opposite ends of the spectrum. With a lower loan term than for mortgages, interest rates have a less eye-popping impact, but even a slight difference can add up. With a purchase price of $25,000 for used car financing, a Rhode Island driver (at 5.46% APR) spend about $1,400 more than their North Dakota (at 3.46% APR) counterpart over the 60-month loan term.
The South and West account for all but one of the 10 lowest advertised auto loan rates in our analysis, while Northeastern states account for all but one (Kentucky) of the 10 highest.
Used Auto Loan Rates
Though it’s less of a long-term financial commitment than purchasing a house, getting a great interest rate on an auto loan is just as important. The average new-car buyer holds on to their vehicle for about six years, and likely even longer in the near future.
The average U.S. interest rate for a used car is 3.46%, with North Dakota (1.99%) and Rhode Island (5.46%) falling on the opposite ends of the spectrum. With a lower loan term than for mortgages, interest rates have a less eye-popping impact, but even a slight difference can add up. With a purchase price of $25,000 for used car financing, a Rhode Island driver (at 5.46% APR) spend about $1,400 more than their North Dakota (at 3.46% APR) counterpart over the 60-month loan term.
The South and West account for all but one of the 10 lowest advertised auto loan rates in our analysis, while Northeastern states account for all but one (Kentucky) of the 10 highest.
Personal Loan Rates
Personal loans are much more flexible than either auto or mortgage loans, with consumers using them for everything from debt consolidation to wedding expenses to home repairs. Because they aren’t secured by collateral in the same way home and car loans are, they tend to have higher interest rates.
The average lowest advertised personal loan rate in the U.S. is 8.54%, much higher than the average rates for auto loans (3.46%) and mortgages (3.07%). Alabama has the lowest average advertised rate for personal loans (5.89%), while Maine has the highest (11.95%). In Maine, we found more lenders offering loans only to subprime borrowers, which drove up their average.
Depending on how much you borrow, the difference between rates could be minor, though if you do get a large personal loan in some of these high-rates states, you could end up paying quite a bit.
Personal Loan Rates
Personal loans are much more flexible than either auto or mortgage loans, with consumers using them for everything from debt consolidation to wedding expenses to home repairs. Because they aren’t secured by collateral in the same way home and car loans are, they tend to have higher interest rates.
The average lowest advertised personal loan rate in the U.S. is 8.54%, much higher than the average rates for auto loans (3.46%) and mortgages (3.07%). Alabama has the lowest average advertised rate for personal loans (5.89%), while Maine has the highest (11.95%). In Maine, we found more lenders offering loans only to subprime borrowers, which drove up their average.
Depending on how much you borrow, the difference between rates could be minor, though if you do get a large personal loan in some of these high-rates states, you could end up paying quite a bit.
Conclusion
Though interest rates have been pretty low since the start of the pandemic, in many places, they are inching up, and consumers should always do their research before taking on any debt. So far we have seen differences in interest rates by state and by product, according to RateBunni’s data.
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Methodology
Our analysis is based on publicly-available data we’ve collected on hundreds of lenders across the country. We also factored in regulatory sources such as FDIC and NCUA to analyze lender geography, product offerings, and lender size. Additionally, our analysis was limited to the segment of banks with assets between $600 million and $180 billion, which includes 479 financial institutions, though not every institution offers every loan type. Our analysis included 304 lenders offering personal loans, 169 offering 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, and 345 offering loans for used vehicles. Data in this analysis is from October 2021.
We used the lowest average rates these banks and credit unions advertise, which may not be the rates they offer most consumers. Not all lenders offer loans to all credit tiers, and as a result their state’s average of lowest advertised rate might be impacted. We recommend shopping around to find the best rates based on your credit score and financial history. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used for making financial decisions. Loan rates change regularly, and because advertised rates vary from rates that you may be offered, consumers should not assume that they will be able to get a loan with the rates listed here.