Rome at a glance
- Population: about 38,111, 26th by size in Georgia of 536 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 37,735 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 1.0% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 26th largest of 536 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 95% of Georgia's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.2661, -85.1861 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Woodstock, GA (40 mi); Marietta, GA (43 mi); Douglasville, GA (46 mi); Smyrna, GA (47 mi); Roswell, GA (50 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: Plainville, GA (13 mi); Cave Spring, GA (14 mi); Kingston, GA (14 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Rome
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Rome
The table carries the Georgia rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Rome.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Rome
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Rome:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.