Hills at a glance
- Population: about 668, 433rd by size in Minnesota of 853 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 686 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 2.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Minnesota places: the 433rd-largest of 853 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 49% of Minnesota's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.5276, -96.3593 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Larchwood, IA (6 mi); Valley Springs, SD (7 mi); Luverne, MN (11 mi); Rock Rapids, IA (12 mi); Brandon, SD (12 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Steen, MN (5 mi); Beaver Creek, MN (6 mi); Lester, IA (6 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Hills
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the 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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Hills
The table carries the Minnesota rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Hills.
| 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 Hills
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Hills:
- 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.