Fairmont at a glance
- Population: 18,155 people, the 8th-largest place among West Virginia's 230 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 18,420 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.4% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 8th-largest of 230 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 97% of the Census places in West Virginia (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.4769, -80.1491 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Morgantown, WV (15 mi); Wheeling, WV (50 mi); Bethel Park, PA (59 mi); West Mifflin, PA (62 mi); Baldwin, PA (63 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Pleasant Valley, WV (2 mi); Barrackville, WV (2 mi); Monongah, WV (4 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fairmont
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Fairmont
The West Virginia rate caps and licensing rules that reach Fairmont are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Fairmont
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Fairmont:
- 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.