Hop Bottom at a glance
- Population: 304 people, the 866th-largest place among Pennsylvania's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 309 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.6% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 866th by size among 1,013 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 15% of Pennsylvania's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.7037, longitude -75.7657 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Nicholson, PA (5 mi); Factoryville, PA (10 mi); Montrose, PA (11 mi); Dalton, PA (12 mi); New Milford, PA (12 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller places: Union Dale, PA (15 mi); Thompson, PA (17 mi); Friendsville, PA (21 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Hop Bottom
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Hop Bottom
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Hop Bottom are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Hop Bottom
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Hop Bottom:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.