Beaufort at a glance
- Population: about 4,804, 151st by size in North Carolina of 549 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 4,460 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 7.7% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: the 151st-largest of 549 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 72% of North Carolina's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 34.7227, longitude -76.6512 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Morehead City, NC (5 mi); Havelock, NC (19 mi); New Bern, NC (35 mi); Jacksonville, NC (42 mi); Holly Ridge, NC (54 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Atlantic Beach, NC (5 mi); Pine Knoll Shores, NC (10 mi); Newport, NC (13 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Beaufort
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
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.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Beaufort
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Beaufort: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Beaufort
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Beaufort:
- 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.