Shepherd at a glance
- Population: 2,005 people, the 601st-largest place among Texas's 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,095 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 4.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 601st in population of 1,224 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 51% of the Census places in Texas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 30.4862, -95.0113 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Cleveland, TX (11 mi); Livingston, TX (16 mi); Roman Forest, TX (23 mi); Onalaska, TX (24 mi); Willis, TX (28 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Goodrich, TX (9 mi); North Cleveland, TX (10 mi); Coldspring, TX (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Shepherd
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Texas lending rules that apply in Shepherd
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Texas, and therefore in Shepherd.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Shepherd
Before you commit to a personal loan in Shepherd, work through these steps:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.