Alton at a glance
- Population: about 705 residents, ranking 399th of 937 Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 703 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.3% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 399th-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 57% of the Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 36.6908, -91.3917 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Thayer, MO (14 mi); Mammoth Spring, AR (16 mi); Winona, MO (22 mi); Hardy, AR (26 mi); West Plains, MO (27 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Koshkonong, MO (16 mi); Brandsville, MO (17 mi); Birch Tree, MO (22 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Alton
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.
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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Alton
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Missouri, and therefore in Alton.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Alton
Run through this list before signing anything in Alton:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.