Houstonia at a glance
- Population: about 197, 669th by size in Missouri of 937 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 196 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.5% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 669th out of 937 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 29% of places in Missouri rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 38.8994, longitude -93.3594 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Sweet Springs, MO (5 mi); Emma, MO (9 mi); La Monte, MO (9 mi); Concordia, MO (13 mi); Knob Noster, MO (14 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Hughesville, MO (6 mi); Mount Leonard, MO (16 mi); Nelson, MO (19 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Houstonia
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Houstonia
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 | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Houstonia
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Houstonia:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.