Cleveland at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 3,539, placing it 177th among Georgia's 536 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 3,510 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 0.8% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Georgia places: 177th in population of 536 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 67% of Georgia's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.5970 latitude, -83.7607 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Dahlonega, GA (13 mi); Cornelia, GA (14 mi); Baldwin, GA (14 mi); Gainesville, GA (22 mi); Dawsonville, GA (24 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Helen, GA (8 mi); Clermont, GA (8 mi); Demorest, GA (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Cleveland
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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 repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Cleveland
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cleveland
Before you share your details with a lender in Cleveland:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.