Laconia at a glance
- Population: 17,142 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 8th-largest of 13 places in New Hampshire.
- 2020 Census base: 16,874 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 1.6% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Hampshire places: 8th by size among 13 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 38% of places in New Hampshire rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.5765, -71.4823 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Concord, NH (24 mi); Rochester, NH (32 mi); Sanford, ME (38 mi); Dover, NH (40 mi); Manchester, NH (41 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Franklin, NH (13 mi); Somersworth, NH (37 mi); Lebanon, NH (39 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Laconia
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
New Hampshire lending rules that apply in Laconia
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year in business transactions absent a written agreement; consumer credit transactions excluded Source says: "The annual rate of interest in all business transactions in which interest is paid or secured, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, shall equal 10 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; annual percentage rate capped at 36% (RSA 399-A:17) Source says: "The annual percentage rate for payday loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan, payday, and title loan lenders must be licensed by the banking department (RSA 399-A:2) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a small loan lender in this state ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Hampshire Banking Department Source says: ""Department" means the banking department." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small loan APR cap (RSA 399-A:16) | Small loans other than payday or title loans: annual percentage rate capped at 36% Source says: "The annual percentage rate for small loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Laconia
Before you share your details with a lender in Laconia:
- 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 New Hampshire using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.