Athens at a glance
- Population: 13,503 residents, the 206th-largest of 1,224 places in Texas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 12,861 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.0% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 206th in population of 1,224 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 83% of places in Texas rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 32.2026 latitude, -95.8308 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Tyler, TX (32 mi); Palestine, TX (33 mi); Jacksonville, TX (37 mi); Corsicana, TX (38 mi); Terrell, TX (45 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Murchison, TX (7 mi); Log Cabin, TX (11 mi); Malakoff, TX (11 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Athens
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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 offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Texas lending rules that apply in Athens
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Athens: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Athens
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Athens:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.