Monroe at a glance
- Population: 15,929 — 70th in Georgia, which has 536 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 14,959 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 6.5% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: the 70th-largest of 536 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 87% of places in Georgia are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 33.7975, -83.7187 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Loganville, GA (11 mi); Winder, GA (13 mi); Snellville, GA (17 mi); Conyers, GA (18 mi); Lawrenceville, GA (19 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Between, GA (5 mi); Good Hope, GA (6 mi); Jersey, GA (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Monroe
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Monroe
The Georgia rate caps and licensing rules that reach Monroe are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Monroe
A few practical steps will make the process in Monroe less costly:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.