Lancaster at a glance
- Population: 239 — 370th in Kansas, which has 625 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 245 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kansas places: 370th-largest of 625 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 41% of the places in Kansas (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 39.5712, longitude -95.3037 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Effingham, KS (6 mi); Atchison, KS (9 mi); Everest, KS (10 mi); Nortonville, KS (11 mi); Horton, KS (14 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places close by: Huron, KS (5 mi); Denton, KS (11 mi); Muscotah, KS (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Lancaster
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Kansas lending rules that apply in Lancaster
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Kansas, and therefore in Lancaster.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner regulates all state-chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage businesses, supervised lenders, credit service organizations, earned wage access service providers, and money transmitters". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| UCCC consumer loan rate caps | 36% on first $860 of unpaid balance; 21% above $860 (closed-end consumer loans) Source says: "36% on the unpaid principal balance which is $860 or less, and 21% on the unpaid principal balance which exceeds $860". | Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% per annum (general contract-rate ceiling for written instruments) Source says: "may stipulate therein for interest receivable ... at a rate not to exceed 15% per annum unless otherwise specifically authorized by law". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday cash advances of $500 or less; charge capped at 15%) Source says: "a licensed or supervised lender may charge an amount not to exceed 15% of the amount of the cash advance". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required (supervised loans) Source says: "Unless a person is exempt from licensing ... such person shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making supervised loans". | Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lancaster
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Lancaster:
- 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 Kansas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.