Ravenswood at a glance
- Population: about 3,819 residents, ranking 32nd of 230 Census places in West Virginia (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 3,868 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 1.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 32nd of 230 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 86% of West Virginia's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 38.9563, -81.7620.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Point Pleasant, WV (21 mi); Parkersburg, WV (24 mi); Belpre, OH (24 mi); Vienna, WV (28 mi); Athens, OH (31 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Racine, OH (8 mi); Ripley, WV (10 mi); New Haven, WV (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ravenswood
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Ravenswood
The West Virginia rate caps and licensing rules that reach Ravenswood are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Ravenswood
A few practical steps will make the process in Ravenswood less costly:
- 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.