Rocky Top at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,640, placing it 193rd among Tennessee's 344 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,631 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.6% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Tennessee places: 193rd largest of 344 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 44% of Tennessee's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 36.2249, longitude -84.1548 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Caryville, TN (6 mi); Jacksboro, TN (8 mi); Clinton, TN (9 mi); La Follette, TN (10 mi); Oliver Springs, TN (16 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Norris, TN (5 mi); Luttrell, TN (23 mi); Wartburg, TN (25 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Rocky Top
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Rocky Top
Each row below is a Tennessee rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Rocky Top
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Rocky Top:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.