Grafton at a glance
- Population: 12,608 — 75th in Wisconsin, which has 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 12,083 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 4.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 75th by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 88% of Wisconsin's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 43.3207, -87.9476 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Port Washington, WI (5 mi); Mequon, WI (8 mi); Germantown, WI (11 mi); Glendale, WI (13 mi); West Bend, WI (14 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Cedarburg, WI (3 mi); Saukville, WI (5 mi); Thiensville, WI (6 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Grafton
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Grafton
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Grafton
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Grafton:
- 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.