Kalama at a glance
- Population: about 3,033 residents, ranking 144th of 281 Census places in Washington (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 2,959 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.5% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 144th of the state's 281 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 49% of the places in Washington (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 46.0171, -122.8419 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Kelso, WA (7 mi); Woodland, WA (8 mi); Longview, WA (11 mi); St. Helens, OR (11 mi); La Center, WA (13 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Prescott, OR (3 mi); Rainier, OR (6 mi); Columbia City, OR (8 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Kalama
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Washington lending rules that apply in Kalama
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Washington, and therefore in Kalama.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Kalama
Before you commit to a personal loan in Kalama, 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.