Petersburg at a glance
- Population: 33,309 — 18th in Virginia, which has 227 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 33,463 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.5% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 18th of 227 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 92% of places in Virginia rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.2047, -77.3924 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Richmond, VA (23 mi); Newport News, VA (49 mi); Suffolk, VA (55 mi); Hampton, VA (61 mi); Portsmouth, VA (62 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Colonial Heights, VA (4 mi); Hopewell, VA (8 mi); Stony Creek, VA (18 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Petersburg
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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 term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Petersburg
The table lists the Virginia rules that apply to a loan made in Petersburg, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Petersburg
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Petersburg:
- 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 Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.