Mauston at a glance
- Population: 4,176, the 168th-largest community in Wisconsin out of 605 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 4,348 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 4.0% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 168th by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 72% of the places in Wisconsin (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 43.8000, -90.0796 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Reedsburg, WI (19 mi); Tomah, WI (25 mi); Baraboo, WI (29 mi); Richland Center, WI (35 mi); Portage, WI (35 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: New Lisbon, WI (7 mi); Elroy, WI (10 mi); Hustler, WI (11 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Mauston
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Mauston
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Mauston
Before you commit to a personal loan in Mauston, work through these steps:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.