Clarion at a glance
- Population: 2,745 — 131st in Iowa, which has 940 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 2,811 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 131st-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 86% of Iowa's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.7320, -93.7298 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Eagle Grove, IA (10 mi); Webster City, IA (19 mi); Humboldt, IA (25 mi); Garner, IA (26 mi); Hampton, IA (27 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Galt, IA (7 mi); Rowan, IA (9 mi); Goldfield, IA (10 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Clarion
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Clarion
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Clarion
Before you share your details with a lender in Clarion:
- 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.