Elizabeth at a glance
- Population: 1,355 — 524th in Pennsylvania, which has 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,392 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.7% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 524th of 1,013 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 48% of Pennsylvania's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.2716, -79.8872 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Clairton, PA (2 mi); Jefferson Hills, PA (3 mi); Liberty, PA (4 mi); Glassport, PA (4 mi); Versailles, PA (4 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: West Elizabeth, PA (0 mi); Lincoln, PA (2 mi); Sutersville, PA (5 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Elizabeth
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
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.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Elizabeth
Each row below is a Pennsylvania rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Elizabeth
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Elizabeth:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.