Graham at a glance
- Population: 18,354 residents, the 58th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 17,162 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 6.9% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 58th largest of 549 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 89% of North Carolina places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.0564, -79.3894 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Burlington, NC (5 mi); Mebane, NC (7 mi); Carrboro, NC (19 mi); Chapel Hill, NC (21 mi); Greensboro, NC (24 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Swepsonville, NC (3 mi); Haw River, NC (3 mi); Green Level, NC (5 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Graham
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Graham
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in North Carolina, and therefore in Graham.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Graham
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Graham:
- 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.