Williamston at a glance
- Population: 5,051, the 143rd-largest community in North Carolina out of 549 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 5,248 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.8% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 143rd-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 74% of the Census places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 35.8465, -77.0661 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Washington, NC (20 mi); Greenville, NC (24 mi); Tarboro, NC (28 mi); Winterville, NC (29 mi); Ayden, NC (33 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Everetts, NC (6 mi); Bear Grass, NC (7 mi); Jamesville, NC (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Williamston
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Williamston
The North Carolina rate caps and licensing rules that reach Williamston are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Williamston
Run through this list before signing anything in Williamston:
- 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.