El Lago at a glance
- Population: 2,945 people, the 498th-largest place among Texas's 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,080 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 4.4% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 498th of 1,224 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: larger than about 59% of the Census places in Texas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 29.5715 / -95.0452, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Taylor Lake Village, TX (1 mi); Nassau Bay, TX (3 mi); Seabrook, TX (4 mi); Webster, TX (5 mi); La Porte, TX (7 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller places: Clear Lake Shores, TX (2 mi); Kemah, TX (3 mi); Shoreacres, TX (4 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in El Lago
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Texas lending rules that apply in El Lago
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in El Lago
Before you share your details with a lender in El Lago:
- 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.