Prairie du Chien at a glance
- Population: 5,373 residents, the 146th-largest of 605 places in Wisconsin (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,524 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 146th by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 76% of Wisconsin's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.0416 / -91.1354, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Decorah, IA (37 mi); Platteville, WI (40 mi); Asbury, IA (41 mi); Dubuque, IA (43 mi); Oelwein, IA (47 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: McGregor, IA (3 mi); Marquette, IA (3 mi); Clayton, IA (10 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Prairie du Chien
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the 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.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Prairie du Chien
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Prairie du Chien: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Prairie du Chien
Before you share your details with a lender in Prairie du Chien:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.