Laurel at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 16,979 residents, ranking 25th of 299 places in Mississippi (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 17,178 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.2% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Mississippi places: 25th out of 299 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 92% of Mississippi places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 31.6912, -89.1483 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Hattiesburg, MS (28 mi); Meridian, MS (55 mi); Brandon, MS (64 mi); Pearl, MS (68 mi); Jackson, MS (76 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Ellisville, MS (7 mi); Soso, MS (9 mi); Sandersville, MS (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Laurel
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Mississippi lending rules that apply in Laurel
The table carries the Mississippi rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Laurel.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) Source says: "The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance's (DBCF) mission is to regulate, supervise and safeguard financial institutions chartered and licensed in Mississippi" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed-deposit (payday) fee caps | $20 per $100 advanced on checks ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 on checks over $250 (DBCF rule) Source says: "Delayed deposit transaction: $20.00 per $100.00 advanced for checks $250.00 and under" | Mississippi Secretary of State (DBCF administrative regulations) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the maximum finance charge for licensed small-loan lenders is set by Miss. Code § 75-17-21, which § 75-67-119 references as the limit; no retrievable official page published the current figure for direct verification. | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — check cashers (delayed-deposit/payday transactions) are licensed consumer-finance industries regulated by DBCF (Miss. Code § 75-67-501 et seq.) Source says: "These industries include Money Transmitter, Small Loan, Check Cashers, Pawnbroker, Title Pledge, Consumer Loan Broker" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required (Small Loan Regulatory Law; Miss. Code § 75-67-105) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending money ... without being the holder of a valid and subsisting license" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Laurel
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Laurel:
- 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 Mississippi using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.