This analysis of 6 million consumer credit records examines how the credit profiles of renters and owners differ. Our most significant findings are as follows:

• 12 million renters have a mortgage
• 64 million renters have credit scores below 650 and may not qualify for a mortgage
• 96 million renters have never had a mortgage, and 42 percent of them have debt in collections
• Many middle-aged renters who used to have a mortgage appear to have been forced out of homeownership by financial troubles