Gays Mills at a glance
- Population: 519 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 474th-largest of 605 places in Wisconsin.
- 2020 Census base: 522 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 474th by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 22% of Wisconsin's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.3301 latitude, -90.8462 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Soldiers Grove, WI (6 mi); Boscobel, WI (15 mi); Viola, WI (15 mi); Viroqua, WI (16 mi); Wauzeka, WI (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Bell Center, WI (3 mi); Mount Sterling, WI (4 mi); Readstown, WI (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Gays Mills
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Gays Mills
The table lists the Wisconsin rules that apply to a loan made in Gays Mills, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Gays Mills
A few practical steps will make the process in Gays Mills less costly:
- 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.