Lawrence at a glance
- Population: about 96,207 residents, ranking 6th of 625 Census places in Kansas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 94,928 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.3% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: the 6th-largest of 625 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 99% of the places in Kansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.9596, -95.2655 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Topeka, KS (24 mi); Olathe, KS (25 mi); Kansas City, KS (30 mi); Overland Park, KS (31 mi); Kansas City, MO (40 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Lecompton, KS (9 mi); Eudora, KS (9 mi); Perry, KS (10 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Lawrence
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Lawrence
The table carries the Kansas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Lawrence.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lawrence
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Lawrence:
- 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.