Gulfport at a glance
- Population: roughly 72,823 people; 2nd of 299 places in Mississippi (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 72,922 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 0.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Mississippi places: 2nd by size among 299 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 99% of the places in Mississippi (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 30.4195 / -89.0690, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: New Orleans, LA (58 mi); Mobile, AL (60 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Long Beach, MS (7 mi); Biloxi, MS (8 mi); D'Iberville, MS (10 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Gulfport
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Mississippi lending rules that apply in Gulfport
The table carries the Mississippi rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Gulfport.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the maximum finance charge for licensed small-loan lenders is set by Miss. Code § 75-17-21, which § 75-67-119 references as the limit; no retrievable official page published the current figure for direct verification. | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — check cashers (delayed-deposit/payday transactions) are licensed consumer-finance industries regulated by DBCF (Miss. Code § 75-67-501 et seq.) Source says: "These industries include Money Transmitter, Small Loan, Check Cashers, Pawnbroker, Title Pledge, Consumer Loan Broker" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required (Small Loan Regulatory Law; Miss. Code § 75-67-105) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending money ... without being the holder of a valid and subsisting license" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) Source says: "The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance's (DBCF) mission is to regulate, supervise and safeguard financial institutions chartered and licensed in Mississippi" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed-deposit (payday) fee caps | $20 per $100 advanced on checks ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 on checks over $250 (DBCF rule) Source says: "Delayed deposit transaction: $20.00 per $100.00 advanced for checks $250.00 and under" | Mississippi Secretary of State (DBCF administrative regulations) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gulfport
Before you share your details with a lender in Gulfport:
- 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 Mississippi using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.