Early at a glance
- Population: 3,218 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 471st-largest of 1,224 places in Texas.
- 2020 Census base: 3,085 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 4.3% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 471st out of 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 62% of places in Texas are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 31.7422, -98.9366 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Brownwood, TX (3 mi); Comanche, TX (22 mi); Coleman, TX (29 mi); Dublin, TX (42 mi); Cisco, TX (45 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Blanket, TX (10 mi); Bangs, TX (12 mi); Mullin, TX (21 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Early
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Texas lending rules that apply in Early
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Early
Before you share your details with a lender in Early:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.