Castalia at a glance
- Population: about 747, 582nd by size in Ohio of 924 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 775 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 3.6% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: 582nd by size among 924 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 37% of places in Ohio rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.4042, -82.8016 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Sandusky, OH (6 mi); Bellevue, OH (9 mi); Marblehead, OH (10 mi); Port Clinton, OH (10 mi); Clyde, OH (12 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Bay View, OH (5 mi); Kelleys Island, OH (15 mi); Put-in-Bay, OH (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Castalia
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Castalia
The table carries the Ohio rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Castalia.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Castalia
Before you share your details with a lender in Castalia:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.