Charles Town at a glance
- Population: roughly 7,672 people; 18th of 230 places in West Virginia (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 6,530 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 17.5% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 18th by size among 230 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 92% of West Virginia's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 39.2640, -77.8813.
- Nearest larger cities: Purcellville, VA (13 mi); Brunswick, MD (14 mi); Martinsburg, WV (14 mi); Winchester, VA (17 mi); Leesburg, VA (20 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller places: Ranson, WV (3 mi); Bolivar, WV (8 mi); Harpers Ferry, WV (9 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Charles Town
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Charles Town
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Charles Town: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Charles Town
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Charles Town:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.