Carthage at a glance
- Population: 15,556 — 50th in Missouri, which has 937 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 15,568 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.1% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 50th in population of 937 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 95% of places in Missouri rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 37.1506, longitude -94.3279 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Joplin, MO (11 mi); Pittsburg, KS (27 mi); Bella Vista, AR (47 mi); Republic, MO (50 mi); Centerton, AR (55 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Brooklyn Heights, MO (3 mi); Fidelity, MO (5 mi); Carterville, MO (6 mi), each a US Census place.
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.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
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.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Carthage
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Carthage
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Carthage:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.