Buena Vista at a glance
- Population: 6,566 residents, the 55th-largest of 227 places in Virginia (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 6,641 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.1% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 55th largest of 227 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 76% of Virginia's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 37.7293, -79.3581.
- Nearest larger cities: Lexington, VA (6 mi); Lynchburg, VA (25 mi); Bedford, VA (28 mi); Staunton, VA (34 mi); Waynesboro, VA (34 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Glasgow, VA (9 mi); Amherst, VA (20 mi); Goshen, VA (20 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Buena Vista
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Buena Vista
The table lists the Virginia rules that apply to a loan made in Buena Vista, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Buena Vista
Before you share your details with a lender in Buena Vista:
- 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 Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.