This Is the Biggest Debt People Your Age Have, Survey Shows
Daniel Hoffman
Published Feb 23, 2026
Whether it's a student loan, credit card, or mortgage, like most people in the United States, you probably carry at least one type of financial debt. And if you don't, consider yourself lucky. Debt may most often be associated with our 20s, 30s, and 40s, when we're starting out—building careers, buying houses, having families, and making other major life decisions, many of which will cause us to get in the red. But what is a person's biggest debt in their 50s? What about in their 60s, and by the time they reach their 70s?
To answer those very questions, a new survey conducted by Caring Advisor, a website for senior care and assisted-living facilities, asked more than 1,000 people over 50 about their current financial situations, past regrets, and plans for the future. Read on to discover the most common type of debt people carry in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. And to further compare your spending habits to others', This Is How Much Money People Spend on 25 Everyday Items, Data Shows.
7 Home equity line of credit
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 9.3 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 9.9 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 6.2 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 9.5 percent
And if you're wondering about how much cash others from your generation have stashed away, find out How Much Money the Average Person Your Age Is Worth, Data Shows.
6 Children's student loans
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 12.3 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 5.3 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 7.4 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 9.8 percent
5 Personal loans
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 11.1 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 10.9 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 8.6 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 10.8 percent
And for more on how salaries change as you get older, This Is How Much Money People Your Age Make on Average, Data Shows.
4 Their own student loans
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 16.1 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 8.6 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 6.2 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 14.0 percent
3 Car loan
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 29.1 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 26.6 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 32.1 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 28.3 percent
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2 Mortgage
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 44.9 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 35.9 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 40.7 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 41.5 percent
And if you're looking to downsize, check out How Much Your Home's Value Will Change in 2021, Experts Say.
1 Credit card debt
People in their 50s with this type of debt: 51.9 percent
People in their 60s with this type of debt: 46.4 percent
People in their 70s with this type of debt: 50.6 percent
Anyone over 50 with this type of debt: 50.7 percent
And for another essential financial tip, check out If You're Not Spending Money on This, You're Hurting Your Credit Score.
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