Cle Elum at a glance
- Population: 2,211 residents, the 160th-largest of 281 places in Washington (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,160 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.4% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 160th of 281 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 43% of the places in Washington (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 47.1946, -120.9528 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Ellensburg, WA (23 mi); Leavenworth, WA (31 mi); Cashmere, WA (32 mi); Wenatchee, WA (34 mi); East Wenatchee, WA (35 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: South Cle Elum, WA (1 mi); Roslyn, WA (10 mi); Kittitas, WA (29 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Cle Elum
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Washington lending rules that apply in Cle Elum
Each row below is a Washington rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cle Elum
A few practical steps will make the process in Cle Elum 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.