Oak Ridge at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 33,397, placing it 24th among Tennessee's 344 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 31,401 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 6.4% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 24th out of 344 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 93% of Tennessee places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 35.9665, -84.2905.
- Nearest larger cities: Knoxville, TN (19 mi); Cleveland, TN (63 mi); Cookeville, TN (69 mi); Chattanooga, TN (82 mi); Dalton, GA (91 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Oliver Springs, TN (5 mi); Farragut, TN (9 mi); Lenoir City, TN (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Oak Ridge
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Oak Ridge
The table lists the Tennessee rules that apply to a loan made in Oak Ridge, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Oak Ridge
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Oak Ridge:
- 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.