Brownstown at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 678 residents, ranking 694th of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 694 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: the 694th-largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 31% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.3334 latitude, -78.9373 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Johnstown, PA (1 mi); Westmont, PA (1 mi); Southmont, PA (2 mi); Dale, PA (2 mi); East Conemaugh, PA (3 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Daisytown, PA (2 mi); Franklin, PA (3 mi); Lorain, PA (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Brownstown
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
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.
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.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Brownstown
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Brownstown are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Brownstown
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Brownstown:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.