Bethlehem at a glance
- Population: 777 — 338th in Georgia, which has 536 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 708 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 9.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 338th-largest of 536 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 37% of the Census places in Georgia (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 33.9379, -83.7100 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Winder, GA (4 mi); Statham, GA (6 mi); Auburn, GA (9 mi); Monroe, GA (10 mi); Bogart, GA (10 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Carl, GA (7 mi); Between, GA (10 mi); Good Hope, GA (12 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Bethlehem
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 APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Bethlehem
The Georgia rate caps and licensing rules that reach Bethlehem are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Bethlehem
Before you share your details with a lender in Bethlehem:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.