Mendota Heights at a glance
- Population: roughly 11,564 people; 95th of 853 places in Minnesota (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 11,738 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.5% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: the 95th-largest of 853 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 89% of Minnesota's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.8789 latitude, -93.1339 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: West St. Paul, MN (3 mi); South St. Paul, MN (5 mi); Eagan, MN (5 mi); Inver Grove Heights, MN (5 mi); St. Paul, MN (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Mendota, MN (1 mi); Lilydale, MN (2 mi); Sunfish Lake, MN (2 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Mendota Heights
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Mendota Heights
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Mendota Heights
Before you share your details with a lender in Mendota Heights:
- 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.