Carlisle at a glance
- Population: 4,326 residents, the 97th-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 4,160 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 4.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Iowa places: 97th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 90% of places in Iowa are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 41.5136, -93.4968 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Pleasant Hill, IA (6 mi); Des Moines, IA (7 mi); Altoona, IA (10 mi); Norwalk, IA (10 mi); Indianola, IA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Hartford, IA (6 mi); Runnells, IA (7 mi); Swan, IA (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Carlisle
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Carlisle
Each row below is a Iowa rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Carlisle
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Carlisle:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.