Hays at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 259 residents, ranking 1,116th of 1,224 places in Texas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 230 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 12.6% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 1,116th largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 9% of Texas's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 30.1215, -97.8724.
- Nearest larger cities: Buda, TX (3 mi); San Leanna, TX (4 mi); Mountain City, TX (6 mi); Bear Creek, TX (6 mi); Sunset Valley, TX (8 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Staples, TX (25 mi); Kingsbury, TX (33 mi); Round Mountain, TX (35 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Hays
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Texas lending rules that apply in Hays
The table carries the Texas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Hays.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Hays
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Hays:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.