Ironwood at a glance
- Population: 4,957 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 154th-largest of 533 places in Michigan.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 5,042 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 1.7% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Michigan places: 154th-largest of 533 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 71% of the places in Michigan (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.4522 / -90.1504, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Ashland, WI (35 mi); Rhinelander, WI (66 mi); Houghton, MI (88 mi); Merrill, WI (90 mi); Superior, WI (93 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Hurley, WI (3 mi); Montreal, WI (5 mi); Bessemer, MI (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Ironwood
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Michigan lending rules that apply in Ironwood
Each row below is a Michigan rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — deferred presentment service transactions (2005 PA 244; MCL 487.2121 et seq.), licensed and regulated by DIFS Source says: "AN ACT to regulate the business of providing deferred presentment service transactions; to require the licensing of providers of deferred presentment service transactions" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required from the commissioner to make regulated loans (Regulatory Loan Act, MCL 493.1 et seq.) Source says: "a person shall not engage in the business of making loans of money ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Source says: ""Department" means the department of insurance and financial services" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Regulated lender interest/finance charge cap | 25% per annum (Credit Reform Act, MCL 445.1854(1)) Source says: "may charge, collect, and receive any rate of interest or finance charge for an extension of credit not to exceed 25% per annum" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum maximum by written agreement; 5% legal rate (MCL 438.31) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate in writing for the payment of any rate of interest, not exceeding 7% per annum" | Michigan Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ironwood
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Ironwood:
- 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 Michigan using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.