Estherwood at a glance
- Population: 678 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 189th-largest of 302 places in Louisiana.
- 2020 Census base: 697 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.7% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Louisiana places: 189th largest of 302 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 37% of Louisiana places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 30.1816 / -92.4633, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Crowley, LA (6 mi); Iota, LA (10 mi); Gueydan, LA (11 mi); Jennings, LA (12 mi); Rayne, LA (12 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Morse, LA (5 mi); Mermentau, LA (7 mi); Cankton, LA (24 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Estherwood
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Louisiana lending rules that apply in Estherwood
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Louisiana, and therefore in Estherwood.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum maximum conventional interest (La. R.S. 9:3500(C)(1)) Source says: "The amount of the conventional interest cannot exceed twelve percent per annum." | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office" | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana." | Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Licensed-lender consumer loan finance charge caps | 36% first $1,400; 27% to $4,000; 24% to $7,000; 21% above (R.S. 9:3519(A)) Source says: "Thirty-six percent per year for that portion of the unpaid principal amount of the loan not exceeding one thousand four hundred dollars" | Louisiana State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Estherwood
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Estherwood:
- 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 Louisiana using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.