Canton at a glance
- Population: roughly 4,418 people; 168th of 549 places in North Carolina (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 4,421 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 168th of 549 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 69% of places in North Carolina rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 35.5321, -82.8337.
- Nearest larger cities: Waynesville, NC (10 mi); Woodfin, NC (16 mi); Asheville, NC (16 mi); Mills River, NC (17 mi); Weaverville, NC (19 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Clyde, NC (4 mi); Maggie Valley, NC (13 mi); Biltmore Forest, NC (17 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Canton
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
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.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Canton
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Canton: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Canton
Run through this list before signing anything in Canton:
- 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.