Rock Valley at a glance
- Population: 4,045 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 103rd-largest of 940 places in Iowa.
- 2020 Census base: 4,060 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 0.4% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 103rd in population of 940 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 89% of Iowa's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.2026 latitude, -96.2890 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Sioux Center, IA (11 mi); Orange City, IA (18 mi); Sheldon, IA (23 mi); Harrisburg, SD (27 mi); Le Mars, IA (30 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Doon, IA (6 mi); Hull, IA (8 mi); Alvord, IA (10 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Rock Valley
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 term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Rock Valley
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Rock Valley
A few practical steps will make the process in Rock Valley less costly:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.