Lehigh at a glance
- Population: about 391, 492nd by size in Iowa of 940 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 399 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 492nd in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 48% of places in Iowa rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 42.3582, -94.0534 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Otho, IA (7 mi); Dayton, IA (7 mi); Stratford, IA (9 mi); Fort Dodge, IA (12 mi); Gowrie, IA (13 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Duncombe, IA (8 mi); Harcourt, IA (9 mi); Callender, IA (12 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Lehigh
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Lehigh
The Iowa rate caps and licensing rules that reach Lehigh are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lehigh
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Lehigh:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.