Karlstad at a glance
- Population: 684 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 426th-largest of 853 places in Minnesota.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 711 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 3.8% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 426th of the state's 853 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 50% of the Census places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 48.5780, longitude -96.5161 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Hallock, MN (23 mi); Warren, MN (29 mi); Drayton, ND (30 mi); Thief River Falls, MN (36 mi); Roseau, MN (39 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Halma, MN (7 mi); Strandquist, MN (7 mi); Lake Bronson, MN (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Karlstad
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Karlstad
The Minnesota rate caps and licensing rules that reach Karlstad are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| 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 Karlstad
Before you share your details with a lender in Karlstad:
- 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.