Amherst at a glance
- Population: 1,125 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 349th-largest of 605 places in Wisconsin.
- 2020 Census base: 1,115 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 0.9% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 349th in population of 605 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 42% of Wisconsin's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 44.4483, -89.2817 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Iola, WI (9 mi); Waupaca, WI (12 mi); Plover, WI (13 mi); Whiting, WI (14 mi); Stevens Point, WI (14 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Amherst Junction, WI (2 mi); Nelsonville, WI (3 mi); Scandinavia, WI (7 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Amherst
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.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Amherst
Each row below is a Wisconsin rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Amherst
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Amherst:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.