Pax at a glance
- Population: 130 people, the 220th-largest place among West Virginia's 230 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 135 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 3.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 220th of 230 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 4% of places in West Virginia are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.9104, -81.2656 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Mount Hope, WV (5 mi); Oak Hill, WV (7 mi); Mabscott, WV (10 mi); Beckley, WV (11 mi); Lester, WV (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Thurmond, WV (11 mi); Glen Lyn, VA (43 mi); Camden-on-Gauley, WV (48 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Pax
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Pax
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Pax
Run through this list before signing anything in Pax:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.