Gaston at a glance
- Population: 974, the 339th-largest community in North Carolina out of 549 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,014 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 3.9% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 339th out of 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 38% of the Census places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 36.4952, -77.6464.
- Nearest larger cities: Roanoke Rapids, NC (3 mi); Weldon, NC (5 mi); Emporia, VA (15 mi); Lawrenceville, VA (21 mi); Enfield, NC (22 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Garysburg, NC (6 mi); Seaboard, NC (11 mi); Halifax, NC (12 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Gaston
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Gaston
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Gaston: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gaston
Before you share your details with a lender in Gaston:
- 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.