Priest River at a glance
- Population: 1,804 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 66th-largest of 197 places in Idaho.
- 2020 Census base: 1,661 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 8.6% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Idaho places: 66th out of 197 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 66% of Idaho's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 48.1843, -116.9054 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Newport, WA (7 mi); Spirit Lake, ID (15 mi); Sandpoint, ID (17 mi); Ponderay, ID (19 mi); Rathdrum, ID (27 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Oldtown, ID (5 mi); Dover, ID (15 mi); Athol, ID (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Priest River
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Priest River
The table lists the Idaho rules that apply to a loan made in Priest River, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Priest River
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Priest River:
- 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.