Charleston at a glance
- Population: about 1,722, 110th by size in Mississippi of 299 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,882 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 8.5% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Mississippi places: 110th out of 299 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 63% of Mississippi's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 34.0077, -90.0552 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Grenada, MS (21 mi); Tutwiler, MS (22 mi); Batesville, MS (23 mi); Water Valley, MS (27 mi); Clarksdale, MS (32 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Oakland, MS (9 mi); Crowder, MS (12 mi); Pope, MS (16 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Charleston
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Mississippi lending rules that apply in Charleston
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed-deposit (payday) fee caps | $20 per $100 advanced on checks ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 on checks over $250 (DBCF rule) Source says: "Delayed deposit transaction: $20.00 per $100.00 advanced for checks $250.00 and under" | Mississippi Secretary of State (DBCF administrative regulations) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: the maximum finance charge for licensed small-loan lenders is set by Miss. Code § 75-17-21, which § 75-67-119 references as the limit; no retrievable official page published the current figure for direct verification. | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — check cashers (delayed-deposit/payday transactions) are licensed consumer-finance industries regulated by DBCF (Miss. Code § 75-67-501 et seq.) Source says: "These industries include Money Transmitter, Small Loan, Check Cashers, Pawnbroker, Title Pledge, Consumer Loan Broker" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required (Small Loan Regulatory Law; Miss. Code § 75-67-105) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending money ... without being the holder of a valid and subsisting license" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) Source says: "The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance's (DBCF) mission is to regulate, supervise and safeguard financial institutions chartered and licensed in Mississippi" | Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Charleston
A few practical steps will make the process in Charleston 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 Mississippi using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.