Clarence at a glance
- Population: 1,004 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 274th-largest of 940 places in Iowa.
- 2020 Census base: 1,038 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.3% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 274th by size among 940 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 71% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.8858 / -91.0579, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Tipton, IA (9 mi); Lisbon, IA (17 mi); Anamosa, IA (19 mi); Mount Vernon, IA (19 mi); Wilton, IA (21 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Stanwood, IA (5 mi); Lowden, IA (7 mi); Oxford Junction, IA (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Clarence
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Clarence
Each row below is a Iowa rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Clarence
Run through this list before signing anything in Clarence:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.