Elizabethton at a glance
- Population: 14,302 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 42nd-largest of 344 places in Tennessee.
- 2020 Census base: 14,545 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.7% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 42nd by size among 344 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 88% of Tennessee's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.3396, -82.2378 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Johnson City, TN (8 mi); Bristol, TN (15 mi); Bristol, VA (20 mi); Kingsport, TN (21 mi); Boone, NC (33 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Watauga, TN (4 mi); Bluff City, TN (9 mi); Unicoi, TN (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Elizabethton
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
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-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Elizabethton
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Tennessee, and therefore in Elizabethton.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Elizabethton
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Elizabethton:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.