Fitchburg at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 32,284 residents, ranking 26th of 605 places in Wisconsin (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 30,990 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 4.2% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 26th of the state's 605 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 96% of places in Wisconsin are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.9858 / -89.4253, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Madison, WI (7 mi); Sun Prairie, WI (17 mi); Janesville, WI (29 mi); Beloit, WI (38 mi); Rockford, IL (53 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Oregon, WI (5 mi); Verona, WI (6 mi); Shorewood Hills, WI (7 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Fitchburg
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Fitchburg
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Wisconsin, and therefore in Fitchburg.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fitchburg
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Fitchburg:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.