Laurel Park at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 2,299, placing it 241st among North Carolina's 549 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 2,249 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 2.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 241st out of 549 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 56% of North Carolina's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 35.3115, longitude -82.5036 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Hendersonville, NC (3 mi); Flat Rock, NC (4 mi); Mills River, NC (7 mi); Fletcher, NC (8 mi); Brevard, NC (13 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Saluda, NC (10 mi); Biltmore Forest, NC (16 mi); Tryon, NC (17 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Laurel Park
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.
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.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Laurel Park
The table carries the North Carolina rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Laurel Park.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Laurel Park
Before you commit to a personal loan in Laurel Park, 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.