Baxter at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,934, placing it 175th among Tennessee's 344 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 1,579 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 22.5% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 175th of the state's 344 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 49% of places in Tennessee rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.1537, -85.6349 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Cookeville, TN (7 mi); Algood, TN (11 mi); Smithville, TN (17 mi); Sparta, TN (18 mi); Carthage, TN (19 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Gainesboro, TN (14 mi); Gordonsville, TN (17 mi); South Carthage, TN (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Baxter
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Baxter
Each row below is a Tennessee rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Baxter
Before you share your details with a lender in Baxter:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.