Mertens at a glance
- Population: 156, the 1,182nd-largest community in Texas out of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 148 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 5.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 1,182nd-largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 3% of Texas's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 32.0590 latitude, -96.8942 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Frost, TX (5 mi); Milford, TX (5 mi); Italy, TX (9 mi); Bynum, TX (9 mi); Carl's Corner, TX (9 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places close by: Aquilla, TX (24 mi); Powell, TX (34 mi); Kirvin, TX (39 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Mertens
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Texas lending rules that apply in Mertens
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 Mertens
Before you share your details with a lender in Mertens:
- 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.