Brentwood at a glance
- Population: about 45,265, 19th by size in Tennessee of 344 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 45,378 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 19th of 344 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 94% of places in Tennessee are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.9939, longitude -86.7708 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Franklin, TN (7 mi); Smyrna, TN (14 mi); Spring Hill, TN (19 mi); Murfreesboro, TN (22 mi); Hendersonville, TN (24 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Oak Hill, TN (5 mi); Nolensville, TN (6 mi); Forest Hills, TN (6 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Brentwood
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Brentwood
The table lists the Tennessee rules that apply to a loan made in Brentwood, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Brentwood
A few practical steps will make the process in Brentwood less costly:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.