Cottonwood at a glance
- Population: about 911 residents, ranking 94th of 197 Census places in Idaho (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 816 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 11.6% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Idaho places: 94th out of 197 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 52% of Idaho places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 46.0510, longitude -116.3498 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Grangeville, ID (14 mi); Kamiah, ID (20 mi); Orofino, ID (30 mi); Lapwai, ID (33 mi); Asotin, WA (38 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Ferdinand, ID (7 mi); Nezperce, ID (14 mi); Craigmont, ID (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Cottonwood
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Cottonwood
The table carries the Idaho rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Cottonwood.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cottonwood
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Cottonwood:
- 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.