Northern Cambria at a glance
- Population: 3,461 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 282nd-largest of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania.
- 2020 Census base: 3,547 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.4% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 282nd by size among 1,013 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 72% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.6571, -78.7777 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Indiana, PA (20 mi); Altoona, PA (22 mi); Punxsutawney, PA (22 mi); Johnstown, PA (24 mi); Westmont, PA (25 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Hastings, PA (4 mi); Cherry Tree, PA (5 mi); Carrolltown, PA (5 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Northern Cambria
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Northern Cambria
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Northern Cambria
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Northern Cambria:
- 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.