Middletown at a glance
- Population: roughly 9,608 people; 74th of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 9,538 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.7% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 74th in population of 1,013 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 93% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.2009 / -76.7292, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Elizabethtown, PA (8 mi); Harrisburg, PA (10 mi); Mechanicsburg, PA (15 mi); York, PA (16 mi); Columbia, PA (17 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Royalton, PA (1 mi); Highspire, PA (3 mi); Goldsboro, PA (3 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Middletown
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Middletown
The table lists the Pennsylvania rules that apply to a loan made in Middletown, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Middletown
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Middletown:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.