Ashton at a glance
- Population: 947 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 668th-largest of 1,294 places in Illinois.
- 2020 Census base: 969 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 668th in population of 1,294 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 48% of Illinois's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.8684 / -89.2231, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Rochelle, IL (9 mi); Hillcrest, IL (11 mi); Oregon, IL (12 mi); Amboy, IL (12 mi); Dixon, IL (13 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller places: Franklin Grove, IL (4 mi); Steward, IL (11 mi); West Brooklyn, IL (13 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Ashton
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
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.
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.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Ashton
The Illinois rate caps and licensing rules that reach Ashton are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ashton
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Ashton:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.