Rural Retreat at a glance
- Population: 1,529 people, the 110th-largest place among Virginia's 227 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,542 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.8% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 110th of 227 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 52% of places in Virginia are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 36.9051, -81.2772 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Wytheville, VA (11 mi); Marion, VA (14 mi); Tazewell, VA (20 mi); Bluefield, VA (23 mi); Chilhowie, VA (24 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Troutdale, VA (17 mi); Independence, VA (20 mi); Fries, VA (21 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Rural Retreat
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Rural Retreat
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Virginia, and therefore in Rural Retreat.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Rural Retreat
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Rural Retreat:
- 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 Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.