Grand Marais at a glance
- Population: 1,321 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 318th-largest of 853 places in Minnesota.
- 2020 Census base: 1,341 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 1.5% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 318th by size among 853 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 63% of places in Minnesota are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 47.7586, -90.3443 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Silver Bay, MN (54 mi); Ely, MN (71 mi); Babbitt, MN (74 mi); Washburn, WI (79 mi); Two Harbors, MN (80 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Beaver Bay, MN (57 mi); Winton, MN (69 mi); Bayfield, WI (69 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Grand Marais
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Grand Marais
The table carries the Minnesota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Grand Marais.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Grand Marais
Before you share your details with a lender in Grand Marais:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.