Lake Hamilton at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,643, placing it 308th among Florida's 411 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,539 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 6.8% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 308th-largest of 411 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 25% of the places in Florida (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 28.0492, longitude -81.6269 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Dundee, FL (3 mi); Haines City, FL (4 mi); Winter Haven, FL (6 mi); Davenport, FL (8 mi); Lake Alfred, FL (8 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Highland Park, FL (13 mi); Hillcrest Heights, FL (16 mi); Lake Buena Vista, FL (24 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Lake Hamilton
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
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.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Florida lending rules that apply in Lake Hamilton
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Florida, and therefore in Lake Hamilton.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lake Hamilton
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Lake Hamilton:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.