Gatlinburg at a glance
- Population: 3,701 residents, the 123rd-largest of 344 places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,573 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.6% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 123rd in population of 344 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 64% of Tennessee's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 35.7250, -83.4937.
- Nearest larger cities: Pigeon Forge, TN (6 mi); Sevierville, TN (12 mi); Newport, TN (23 mi); Alcoa, TN (27 mi); Maryville, TN (27 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Pittman Center, TN (6 mi); Townsend, TN (15 mi); Bryson City, NC (21 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Gatlinburg
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Gatlinburg
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Gatlinburg: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gatlinburg
A few practical steps will make the process in Gatlinburg 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.