Oak Ridge at a glance
- Population: 7,776 residents, the 112th-largest of 549 places in North Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 7,640 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.8% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among North Carolina places: 112th largest of 549 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 80% of North Carolina's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 36.1741, -79.9922 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Summerfield, NC (6 mi); Kernersville, NC (7 mi); Greensboro, NC (11 mi); High Point, NC (13 mi); Winston-Salem, NC (16 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Stokesdale, NC (4 mi); Walkertown, NC (10 mi); Walnut Cove, NC (12 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Oak Ridge
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
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 payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
North Carolina lending rules that apply in Oak Ridge
The table lists the North Carolina rules that apply to a loan made in Oak Ridge, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) Source says: "Lenders operating under the CFA must be licensed by and are subject to regulation by the NCCOB." | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Finance Act installment loan rates (G.S. 53-176) | 33% per annum on unpaid balance up to $4,000; 24% on $4,000-$8,000; 18% on the remainder (loans up to $12,000); 18% for loans above $12,000 Source says: "thirty-three percent (33%) per annum on that part of the unpaid principal balance not exceeding four thousand dollars ($4,000)" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | For loans of $25,000 or less: greater of the 6-month U.S. Treasury bill rate + 6% or 16% (G.S. 24-1.1(c)); any agreed rate above $25,000 Source says: "plus six percent (6%), rounded upward or downward ... or sixteen percent (16%), whichever is greater" | North Carolina General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders shut down in North Carolina; online payday lending remains an enforcement target Source says: "Payday Lenders: Shut Down In NC, But Still Victimizing Borrowers Online" | North Carolina Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Finance Act license from the Commissioner of Banks required for loans of $25,000 or less charging more than Chapter 24 rates Source says: "Direct lenders seeking to charge rates higher than allowed under Chapter 24 on consumer term loans of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less" | North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Oak Ridge
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Oak Ridge:
- 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 North Carolina using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.