Marathon at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 221, placing it 640th among Iowa's 940 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 232 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 4.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Iowa places: 640th of 940 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 32% of Iowa's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 42.8602, longitude -94.9829 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Albert City, IA (6 mi); Laurens, IA (7 mi); Sioux Rapids, IA (9 mi); Mallard, IA (16 mi); Newell, IA (17 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Webb, IA (6 mi); Rembrandt, IA (10 mi); Gillett Grove, IA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Marathon
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.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Marathon
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Marathon
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Marathon:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.