Elizabethtown at a glance
- Population: about 32,978 residents, ranking 7th of 416 Census places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 31,390 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 5.1% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Kentucky places: 7th-largest of 416 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 98% of Kentucky places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.7040 latitude, -85.8789 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): New Albany, IN (42 mi); Jeffersonville, IN (45 mi); Bowling Green, KY (59 mi); Owensboro, KY (68 mi); Lexington-Fayette, KY (81 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Radcliff, KY (9 mi); Vine Grove, KY (9 mi); Sonora, KY (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Elizabethtown
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Elizabethtown
The Kentucky rate caps and licensing rules that reach Elizabethtown are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Elizabethtown
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Elizabethtown:
- 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.