Salem at a glance
- Population: 386 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 495th-largest of 940 places in Iowa.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 398 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.0% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 495th of the state's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 47% of the places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 40.8522, -91.6207 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Pleasant, IA (9 mi); New London, IA (12 mi); West Point, IA (13 mi); Donnellson, IA (15 mi); Farmington, IA (16 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Houghton, IA (5 mi); Hillsboro, IA (5 mi); Westwood, IA (8 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Salem
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Salem
The table carries the Iowa rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Salem.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Salem
Run through this list before signing anything in Salem:
- 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.