Lebanon at a glance
- Population: roughly 15,342 people; 9th of 13 places in New Hampshire (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 14,284 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 7.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Hampshire places: 9th of the state's 13 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 31% of places in New Hampshire are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.6354 latitude, -72.2538 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Rutland, VT (36 mi); Laconia, NH (39 mi); Concord, NH (45 mi); Keene, NH (47 mi); Manchester, NH (61 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Woodstock, VT (13 mi); Claremont, NH (18 mi); Ludlow, VT (28 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Lebanon
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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 longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
New Hampshire lending rules that apply in Lebanon
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small loan APR cap (RSA 399-A:16) | Small loans other than payday or title loans: annual percentage rate capped at 36% Source says: "The annual percentage rate for small loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year in business transactions absent a written agreement; consumer credit transactions excluded Source says: "The annual rate of interest in all business transactions in which interest is paid or secured, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, shall equal 10 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; annual percentage rate capped at 36% (RSA 399-A:17) Source says: "The annual percentage rate for payday loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan, payday, and title loan lenders must be licensed by the banking department (RSA 399-A:2) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a small loan lender in this state ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Hampshire Banking Department Source says: ""Department" means the banking department." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lebanon
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Lebanon:
- 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 New Hampshire using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.