Golden Valley at a glance
- Population: 21,211 residents, the 56th-largest of 853 places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 22,554 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 6.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: the 56th-largest of 853 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 93% of Minnesota's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 44.9902, longitude -93.3587 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: St. Louis Park, MN (3 mi); Crystal, MN (3 mi); Minneapolis, MN (5 mi); Plymouth, MN (6 mi); Brooklyn Center, MN (6 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Robbinsdale, MN (3 mi); Medicine Lake, MN (3 mi); New Hope, MN (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Golden Valley
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Golden Valley
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Minnesota, and therefore in Golden Valley.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Golden Valley
Before you commit to a personal loan in Golden Valley, work through these steps:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.