Nashua at a glance
- Population: about 1,503, 209th by size in Iowa of 940 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,554 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 3.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 209th in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 78% of places in Iowa are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 42.9504, -92.5425 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Charles City, IA (10 mi); New Hampton, IA (14 mi); Waverly, IA (16 mi); Denver, IA (22 mi); Sumner, IA (24 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller places: Ionia, IA (7 mi); Plainfield, IA (7 mi); Bassett, IA (8 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Nashua
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.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Nashua
Each row below is a Iowa rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Nashua
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Nashua:
- 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.