Carthage at a glance
- Population: 2,951, the 215th-largest community in North Carolina out of 549 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,767 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 6.6% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 215th out of 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 61% of the places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.3223, -79.4109 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Whispering Pines, NC (6 mi); Southern Pines, NC (9 mi); Pinehurst, NC (10 mi); Aberdeen, NC (13 mi); Sanford, NC (18 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Vass, NC (9 mi); Taylortown, NC (9 mi); Cameron, NC (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Carthage
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Carthage
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in North Carolina, and therefore in Carthage.
| 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 Carthage
A few practical steps will make the process in Carthage less costly:
- 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.