Austin at a glance
- Population: 26,171 people, the 41st-largest place among Minnesota's 853 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 26,177 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: stable between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: the 41st-largest of 853 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 95% of places in Minnesota are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.6721 latitude, -92.9779 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Owatonna, MN (32 mi); Rochester, MN (34 mi); Mason City, IA (38 mi); Mankato, MN (60 mi); Lakeville, MN (71 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Mapleview, MN (1 mi); Brownsdale, MN (7 mi); Rose Creek, MN (9 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Austin
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Austin
The table carries the Minnesota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Austin.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Austin
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Austin:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.