Appleton at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 74,719, placing it 6th among Wisconsin's 605 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 75,674 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.3% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: the 6th-largest of 605 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 99% of Wisconsin places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 44.2789, -88.3883 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Green Bay, WI (26 mi); Milwaukee, WI (87 mi); Madison, WI (97 mi); Racine, WI (111 mi); Kenosha, WI (120 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Kimberly, WI (3 mi); Little Chute, WI (3 mi); Combined Locks, WI (4 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Appleton
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Appleton
Each row below is a Wisconsin rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Appleton
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Appleton:
- 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.