Countryside at a glance
- Population: 6,147 — 298th in Illinois, which has 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 6,427 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 4.4% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 298th largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 77% of places in Illinois are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.7742, -87.8752 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): La Grange, IL (2 mi); Western Springs, IL (2 mi); Justice, IL (3 mi); Burr Ridge, IL (3 mi); Hinsdale, IL (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Hodgkins, IL (1 mi); Indian Head Park, IL (1 mi); McCook, IL (2 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Countryside
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Countryside
The table lists the Illinois rules that apply to a loan made in Countryside, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Countryside
A few practical steps will make the process in Countryside 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.