Madison at a glance
- Population: 3,416 residents, the 311th-largest of 924 places in Ohio (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,437 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.6% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: 311th by size among 924 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 66% of places in Ohio are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.7723 latitude, -81.0530 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Geneva, OH (6 mi); Painesville, OH (11 mi); Ashtabula, OH (15 mi); Chardon, OH (16 mi); Mentor, OH (16 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places close by: North Perry, OH (4 mi); Perry, OH (5 mi); Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Madison
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Madison
Each row below is a Ohio rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Madison
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Madison:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.