Hamlin at a glance
- Population: 992, the 101st-largest community in West Virginia out of 230 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,039 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 4.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 101st largest of 230 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 56% of West Virginia places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.2779, -82.1020 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Milton, WV (11 mi); Hurricane, WV (11 mi); Barboursville, WV (14 mi); St. Albans, WV (17 mi); Nitro, WV (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: West Hamlin, WV (5 mi); Proctorville, OH (19 mi); Athalia, OH (20 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Hamlin
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Hamlin
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Hamlin
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Hamlin:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.