Lakeland at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 3,008, placing it 196th among Georgia's 536 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,882 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 4.4% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: the 196th-largest of 536 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 63% of the places in Georgia (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 31.0408, longitude -83.0747 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Nashville, GA (15 mi); Valdosta, GA (18 mi); Hahira, GA (18 mi); Adel, GA (22 mi); Echols County, GA (25 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Ray City, GA (7 mi); Du Pont, GA (13 mi); Cecil, GA (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Lakeland
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
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.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Lakeland
The table lists the Georgia rules that apply to a loan made in Lakeland, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lakeland
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Lakeland:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.