Altoona at a glance
- Population: about 343 residents, ranking 334th of 625 Census places in Kansas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 349 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.7% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 334th of the state's 625 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 47% of Kansas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 37.5245, -95.6615.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Neodesha, KS (7 mi); Fredonia, KS (9 mi); Thayer, KS (10 mi); Chanute, KS (15 mi); Cherryvale, KS (19 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Benedict, KS (8 mi); Earlton, KS (11 mi); Buffalo, KS (13 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Altoona
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Altoona
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Altoona
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Altoona:
- 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.