Williamson County leads Tennessee in credit score impact
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People who grew up in Williamson County tend to have higher credit scores in early middle-age than people from any other part of Tennessee, according to a new analysis.
Why it matters: Credit scores can determine people's access to loans, housing, better interest rates and more — despite their flaws and biases.
- Measurements based on your childhood neighborhood can reveal how the geographic roll of the dice may impact the course of your life, even if you're no longer there.
State of play: Williamson County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country. Several studies have highlighted the benefits that come with that status.
- A new dataset from the Opportunity Atlas found people who grew up in Williamson County had a 707 credit average in adulthood, the highest in the state.
- People who grew up in Lake County, one of Tennessee's poorest counties, had the lowest average score: 620.
How it works: The dataset looks at people born between 1978 and 1985, measuring their scores in 2020, when they were 35-42. It reflects where they grew up, not necessarily where they live now.
Zoom in: People from Davidson County logged an average 661 score. Wilson and Sumner counties trended higher, with average scores of 677 and 676 respectively.
What they're saying: A related Opportunity Insights study published in July found "significant differences in credit outcomes by race, class, and geography."
- "In particular, Black Americans, individuals from low-income families, and those who grew up in Appalachia or parts of the South are more likely to have lower credit scores and more limited access to credit."