Carthage at a glance
- Population: about 2,264, 158th by size in Tennessee of 344 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,291 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.2% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 158th of 344 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 54% of Tennessee places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.2566 latitude, -85.9429 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Hartsville/Trousdale, TN (15 mi); Lafayette, TN (19 mi); Smithville, TN (22 mi); Lebanon, TN (23 mi); Cookeville, TN (25 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: South Carthage, TN (1 mi); Gordonsville, TN (5 mi); Alexandria, TN (13 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Carthage
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Carthage
The table carries the Tennessee rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Carthage.
| 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 Carthage
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Carthage:
- 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.