Marfa at a glance
- Population: 1,674 — 659th in Texas, which has 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,788 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 6.4% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 659th by size among 1,224 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 46% of Texas's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 30.3107, -104.0255 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Alpine, TX (22 mi); Presidio, TX (56 mi); Van Horn, TX (70 mi); Fort Stockton, TX (79 mi); Town of Pecos, TX (80 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Valentine, TX (34 mi); Balmorhea, TX (49 mi); Toyah, TX (71 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Marfa
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.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Texas lending rules that apply in Marfa
The table carries the Texas rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Marfa.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Marfa
Run through this list before signing anything in Marfa:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.