Burlington at a glance
- Population: 60,032, the 18th-largest community in North Carolina out of 549 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 57,318 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 4.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 18th in population of 549 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 97% of North Carolina's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.0761 / -79.4683, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Greensboro, NC (20 mi); Chapel Hill, NC (26 mi); High Point, NC (30 mi); Durham, NC (33 mi); Apex, NC (41 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places close by: Elon, NC (3 mi); Alamance, NC (4 mi); Gibsonville, NC (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Burlington
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Burlington
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Burlington: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Burlington
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Burlington:
- 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.