Port Carbon at a glance
- Population: about 1,808 residents, ranking 453rd of 1,013 Census places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,807 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 0.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 453rd out of 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 55% of Pennsylvania's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.6969, -76.1666.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): St. Clair, PA (2 mi); Pottsville, PA (3 mi); Orwigsburg, PA (4 mi); Schuylkill Haven, PA (5 mi); Minersville, PA (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Palo Alto, PA (1 mi); Mechanicsville, PA (1 mi); Mount Carbon, PA (2 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Port Carbon
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Port Carbon
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Pennsylvania, and therefore in Port Carbon.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Port Carbon
Before you share your details with a lender in Port Carbon:
- 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.