Independence at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 7,481 residents, ranking 206th of 924 places in Ohio (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 7,586 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.4% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: the 206th-largest of 924 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 78% of places in Ohio are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 41.3800, -81.6333 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Seven Hills, OH (2 mi); Garfield Heights, OH (3 mi); Maple Heights, OH (4 mi); Broadview Heights, OH (5 mi); Parma, OH (5 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller places: Valley View, OH (1 mi); Brooklyn Heights, OH (3 mi); Walton Hills, OH (4 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Independence
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Independence
The table lists the Ohio rules that apply to a loan made in Independence, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Independence
Before you commit to a personal loan in Independence, work through these steps:
- 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.