Rensselaer at a glance
- Population: about 252 residents, ranking 608th of 937 Census places in Missouri (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 250 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 0.8% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 608th-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 35% of Missouri's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 39.6698, longitude -91.5404 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Hannibal, MO (8 mi); Palmyra, MO (9 mi); New London, MO (10 mi); Monroe City, MO (10 mi); Center, MO (11 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Hunnewell, MO (17 mi); Stoutsville, MO (19 mi); Kinderhook, IL (21 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Rensselaer
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Missouri lending rules that apply in Rensselaer
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Rensselaer
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Rensselaer:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.