Paducah at a glance
- Population: 26,749 people, the 15th-largest place among Kentucky's 416 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 27,124 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.4% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Kentucky places: 15th of the state's 416 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 96% of the places in Kentucky (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.0709, -88.6445 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Cape Girardeau, MO (53 mi); Hopkinsville, KY (67 mi); Henderson, KY (79 mi); Clarksville, TN (80 mi); Evansville, IN (88 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Brookport, IL (4 mi); Metropolis, IL (6 mi); Kevil, KY (13 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Paducah
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Kentucky lending rules that apply in Paducah
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: "The Department of Financial Institutions' mission is to serve Kentucky residents by promoting access to a stable financial industry, implementing effective and efficient regulatory oversight". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer Loan Company license — statutory basis | License required from the commissioner to make loans at a greater rate of interest than otherwise permitted by law Source says: "No person shall, without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, engage in the business of making loans ... at a greater rate of interest". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Up to 19% per annum, or 4% over the 90-day commercial-paper discount rate, whichever is less (by written agreement) Source says: "At a per annum rate not to exceed four percent (4%) in excess of the discount rate on ninety (90) day commercial paper ... or nineteen percent (19%), whichever is less". | Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred deposit service business; payday loans) Source says: "The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has secured the services of Veritec Solutions, LLC to provide a common database with real-time access for deferred deposit transactions". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (KRS Chapter 286.4) Source says: "How to License a Consumer Loan Company: 1. Read KRS 286.4 and the applicable administrative regulations under KAR 808, Chapter 6". | Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Paducah
Before you share your details with a lender in Paducah:
- 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 Kentucky using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.