Houston at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 2,314,157 residents, ranking 1st of 1,224 places in Texas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 2,300,833 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 0.6% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 1st-largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 99% of Texas's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 29.7857, -95.3888 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: none within the 120-mile radius we measure from Houston.
- Nearest smaller towns: West University Place, TX (5 mi); Hilshire Village, TX (6 mi); Southside Place, TX (6 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Houston
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Texas lending rules that apply in Houston
The table carries the Texas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Houston.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Houston
Before you commit to a personal loan in Houston, work through these steps:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.