Punxsutawney at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 5,613 residents, ranking 164th of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,768 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.7% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 164th of 1,013 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 84% of Pennsylvania's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.9437, longitude -78.9748 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: DuBois, PA (17 mi); Indiana, PA (24 mi); Clearfield, PA (28 mi); St. Marys, PA (43 mi); Altoona, PA (43 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Big Run, PA (5 mi); Worthville, PA (10 mi); Sykesville, PA (11 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Punxsutawney
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Punxsutawney
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Punxsutawney
Before you share your details with a lender in Punxsutawney:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.