Mason City at a glance
- Population: roughly 26,906 people; 18th of 940 places in Iowa (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 27,340 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 1.6% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 18th of 940 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 98% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 43.1478, -93.2004.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Cedar Falls, IA (58 mi); Waterloo, IA (62 mi); Rochester, MN (70 mi); Marshalltown, IA (78 mi); Ames, IA (80 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Rock Falls, IA (7 mi); Plymouth, IA (8 mi); Clear Lake, IA (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Mason City
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Mason City
Each row below is a Iowa rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 Mason City
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Mason City:
- 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.