Melba at a glance
- Population: 588 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 115th-largest of 197 places in Idaho.
- 2020 Census base: 574 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 2.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Idaho places: 115th in population of 197 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 42% of places in Idaho rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.3736 latitude, -116.5319 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Kuna, ID (12 mi); Nampa, ID (15 mi); Meridian, ID (18 mi); Marsing, ID (18 mi); Caldwell, ID (20 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Grand View, ID (35 mi); Adrian, OR (37 mi); Jordan Valley, OR (38 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Melba
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Melba
The Idaho rate caps and licensing rules that reach Melba are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Melba
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Melba:
- 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.