Mountain City at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 2,463, placing it 149th among Tennessee's 344 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 2,414 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.0% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: the 149th-largest of 344 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 57% of the places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.4696, -81.8049 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Abingdon, VA (19 mi); Boone, NC (19 mi); Bristol, VA (22 mi); Bristol, TN (24 mi); Elizabethton, TN (26 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places nearby: Damascus, VA (11 mi); Lansing, NC (17 mi); Beech Mountain, NC (18 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Mountain City
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Mountain City
Each row below is a Tennessee rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Mountain City
Before you commit to a personal loan in Mountain City, 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.