Cambridge at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,668 people; 283rd of 605 places in Wisconsin (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,641 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 1.6% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 283rd of the state's 605 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 53% of Wisconsin's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 43.0066, -89.0214 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Deerfield, WI (4 mi); Lake Mills, WI (8 mi); Fort Atkinson, WI (11 mi); Jefferson, WI (11 mi); Cottage Grove, WI (11 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Rockdale, WI (3 mi); Maple Bluff, WI (19 mi); Brooklyn, WI (21 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Cambridge
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.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Cambridge
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cambridge
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Cambridge:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.