Lonsdale at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 4,937, placing it 155th among Minnesota's 853 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 4,685 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 5.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 155th of 853 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: larger than about 82% of the Census places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.4776 / -93.4242, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Elko New Market, MN (8 mi); New Prague, MN (9 mi); Northfield, MN (13 mi); Credit River, MN (14 mi); Faribault, MN (14 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Montgomery, MN (8 mi); Heidelberg, MN (10 mi); Dundas, MN (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Lonsdale
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.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total 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 payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Lonsdale
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Lonsdale: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lonsdale
Before you share your details with a lender in Lonsdale:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.