La Grande at a glance
- Population: 12,973 people, the 42nd-largest place among Oregon's 240 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 13,023 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Oregon places: 42nd of the state's 240 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 82% of the Census places in Oregon (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 45.3245, -118.0869.
- Nearest larger cities: Pendleton, OR (43 mi); Walla Walla, WA (53 mi); Hermiston, OR (68 mi); Kennewick, WA (80 mi); Pasco, WA (82 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Island City, OR (2 mi); Imbler, OR (11 mi); Summerville, OR (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in La Grande
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.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Oregon lending rules that apply in La Grande
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Oregon, and therefore in La Grande.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed payday/title lenders; term 31-60 days; one-time 10% origination fee capped at $30; interest limited to 36%/yr; max APR 153.77%. Source says: "Interest rates are limited to 36 percent annually. The maximum APR (interest and fees) is 153.77 percent"; "A one-time 10 percent loan origination fee, up to a maximum of $30 for a new loan"; "The payday or title loan must be for at least 31 days and not longer than 60 days." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required to make consumer finance loans of $50,000 or less; license issued by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Source says: "a consumer finance loan of $50,000 or less... unless the person first obtains a license under this chapter" (ORS 725.045). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (Department of Consumer and Business Services) Source says: "Protecting Oregonians' access to fair products and services through education, regulation, and consumer assistance." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Unlicensed lending consequence (state-specific rule) | Unlicensed consumer finance loans are void and uncollectible (principal, interest, fees). Source says: "the consumer finance loan is void... may not... collect, receive or retain principal, interest, a fee or a charge related to... the consumer finance loan" (ORS 725.045(1)(b)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% per annum default legal rate where the parties have not agreed to a rate. Source says: "The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum" (ORS 82.010(1)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in La Grande
Before you share your details with a lender in La Grande:
- 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 Oregon using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.