Durham at a glance
- Population: 296,186 — 4th in North Carolina, which has 549 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 283,662 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 4.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 4th largest of 549 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 99% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 35.9779, -78.8981 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Raleigh, NC (18 mi); Greensboro, NC (52 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Chapel Hill, NC (9 mi); Morrisville, NC (10 mi); Carrboro, NC (11 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Durham
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Durham
The North Carolina rate caps and licensing rules that reach Durham are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Durham
A few practical steps will make the process in Durham less costly:
- 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.