Gonzales at a glance
- Population: 13,737 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 23rd-largest of 302 places in Louisiana.
- 2020 Census base: 12,224 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 12.4% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 23rd largest of 302 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 92% of the Census places in Louisiana (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 30.2127, -90.9224.
- Nearest larger cities: Central, LA (25 mi); Thibodaux, LA (30 mi); Hammond, LA (34 mi); Zachary, LA (34 mi); Kenner, LA (42 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Sorrento, LA (4 mi); Donaldsonville, LA (9 mi); Port Vincent, LA (10 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Gonzales
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Gonzales
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Louisiana, and therefore in Gonzales.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gonzales
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Gonzales:
- 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 Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.