La Crescent at a glance
- Population: 5,294, the 146th-largest community in Minnesota out of 853 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,337 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.8% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 146th of the state's 853 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 83% of Minnesota's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 43.8297, -91.3050 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: La Crosse, WI (4 mi); Onalaska, WI (7 mi); Holmen, WI (10 mi); West Salem, WI (12 mi); Winona, MN (24 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Hokah, MN (5 mi); Dakota, MN (6 mi); Brownsville, MN (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in La Crescent
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.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in La Crescent
The table lists the Minnesota rules that apply to a loan made in La Crescent, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in La Crescent
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in La Crescent:
- 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.