Freeport at a glance
- Population: roughly 6,778 people; 203rd of 411 places in Florida (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 5,880 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 15.3% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 203rd in population of 411 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 51% of Florida places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 30.4985, -86.1313 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Niceville, FL (21 mi); Destin, FL (21 mi); Panama City Beach, FL (24 mi); Fort Walton Beach, FL (30 mi); Crestview, FL (32 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: DeFuniak Springs, FL (14 mi); Ebro, FL (15 mi); Ponce de Leon, FL (19 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Freeport
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Florida lending rules that apply in Freeport
Each row below is a Florida rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Freeport
Before you share your details with a lender in Freeport:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.