Clare at a glance
- Population: about 136, 760th by size in Iowa of 940 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 140 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.9% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 760th-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 19% of the Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 42.5874, -94.3444.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Barnum, IA (6 mi); Fort Dodge, IA (10 mi); Badger, IA (10 mi); Moorland, IA (10 mi); Gilmore City, IA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Knierim, IA (11 mi); Rutland, IA (12 mi); Somers, IA (15 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Clare
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
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.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Clare
The table carries the Iowa rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Clare.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Clare
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Clare:
- 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.