Houston at a glance
- Population: 1,152 people, the 567th-largest place among Pennsylvania's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,170 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.5% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 567th out of 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 44% of the Census places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.2495, -80.2111 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Canonsburg, PA (2 mi); East Washington, PA (5 mi); Washington, PA (6 mi); McDonald, PA (8 mi); Bridgeville, PA (9 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Midway, PA (9 mi); Green Hills, PA (11 mi); Finleyville, PA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Houston
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Houston
Each row below is a Pennsylvania rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Houston
A few practical steps will make the process in Houston less costly:
- 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.