For a lot of Jacksonville residents, the monthly budget is running on fumes. New research shows nearly two thirds of local households say they spend as much or more than they earn, and fewer than half say they can consistently pay bills on time. Worry about debt is now crowding out concerns about work and health, with many people leaning on high interest credit just to cover everyday costs. Similar financial strain is showing up across nearby Southern metros, suggesting this is a broader regional squeeze, not just a Jacksonville problem.
The findings come from The State of Financial Stability in the Southeast, a study produced by VyStar Credit Union in partnership with TransUnion. According to a report by VyStar Credit Union, the study surveyed about 2,800 residents in December 2025 and combined their responses with TransUnion credit files. The report notes that 62 percent of respondents are spending at or above their income, 42 percent are more worried about debt than they were a year ago, and only 48 percent say they can pay bills on time, far below a 71 percent national benchmark.
Financial stress tops other life pressures
Money is now the main thing keeping people up at night. VyStar chief marketing officer Dana Karzan told Action News Jax that finances were cited as a top stressor at more than twice the rate of work, family or even health concerns. She described the report as a kind of roadmap that banks, nonprofits and local officials can use to coordinate solutions. In the meantime, the credit union has rolled out community programs and a debt payoff challenge designed to help participants trim balances and build steadier money habits.
Joshua Hicks, Jacksonville’s affordable housing director, warned that these pressures could get worse if prices keep climbing. "That’s a problem we need to address because ultimately, as inflation goes up and things become more expensive, that number is going to increase," Hicks told Action News Jax. He pointed to tools the city is already using, including downpayment assistance, rehab and repair grants and a new roof program, as ways Jacksonville is trying to ease at least part of the cost burden.
Data show credit and delinquency gaps
The VyStar study leans on TransUnion credit data to show that Southeastern markets face steeper headwinds than the country overall. According to VyStar Credit Union, these markets carry higher delinquency rates and more non mortgage debt than the national average. Many residents are putting basics on credit cards and then making minimum or even below minimum payments, a pattern that drags down credit scores and limits future options. Taken together, the numbers help explain why a much smaller share of people in these metros qualify as financially healthy compared with United States benchmarks.
Where to turn locally
For residents looking for help before bills stack up any higher, VyStar operates a Financial Fitness center and hosts free monthly seminars at The Corner at Debs Store on Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside, according to The Corner at Debs Store. The local picture lines up with United Way ALICE research that shows a large share of Florida households are living paycheck to paycheck, which underscores the need for broad based financial education and stronger housing supports, per United Way of Florida. Local leaders say a mix of targeted outreach, affordable housing programs and practical money tools will determine whether the region can steady its footing or slides deeper into financial strain.
