Houston residents hold an average of $44,640 in non-mortgage debt, according to a LendingTree analysis. This figure ranked the city third-highest among the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas.

Nearly 98% of people living in the Houston area carry some form of non-mortgage debt. The average non-mortgage debt for the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas is $37,827. In Houston, residents have an average of $16,357 in auto loan debt, $12,556 in student loan debt, $8,583 in credit card debt, and $4,473 in personal loan debt.

Financial counseling guidelines suggest creating detailed budgets and contacting lenders about hardship programs. Engaging nonprofit credit counseling services is another recommendation. Nonprofit credit counseling organizations offer services such as budget creation, payment consolidation, and creditor negotiation at little to no cost. American Consumer Credit Counseling, Money Management International, and Greenpath Financial Wellness are examples of such organizations.

Consumer reporter Bill Spencer said, "These firms will create a budget for you, put you on a path to recovery and help lower interest rates for you." Texas cities frequently rank highly for debt levels. Residents often rely on vehicles and take larger auto loans.

No independent assessment was available for this report.