Alto at a glance
- Population: 1,054 people, the 784th-largest place among Texas's 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,027 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 2.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Texas places: 784th largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 36% of places in Texas are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 31.6510, -95.0708.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Rusk, TX (11 mi); Jacksonville, TX (24 mi); Nacogdoches, TX (25 mi); Grapeland, TX (26 mi); Hudson, TX (28 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Wells, TX (13 mi); Reklaw, TX (16 mi); Cushing, TX (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Alto
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Texas lending rules that apply in Alto
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Alto
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Alto:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.