Palo Alto at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 971, placing it 604th among Pennsylvania's 1,013 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 967 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.4% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 604th of 1,013 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 40% of the places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.6861, -76.1699.
- Nearest larger cities: Port Carbon, PA (1 mi); Pottsville, PA (2 mi); St. Clair, PA (3 mi); New Philadelphia, PA (4 mi); Schuylkill Haven, PA (4 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Mechanicsville, PA (1 mi); Mount Carbon, PA (1 mi); Landingville, PA (5 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Palo Alto
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Palo Alto
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Palo Alto are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Palo Alto
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Palo Alto:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.