Shepherdstown at a glance
- Population: 1,537 — 68th in West Virginia, which has 230 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,532 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.3% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among West Virginia places: 68th in population of 230 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 70% of places in West Virginia rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 39.4319, longitude -77.8047 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Boonsboro, MD (9 mi); Ranson, WV (9 mi); Martinsburg, WV (9 mi); Williamsport, MD (11 mi); Charles Town, WV (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Sharpsburg, MD (3 mi); Keedysville, MD (7 mi); Bolivar, WV (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Shepherdstown
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
West Virginia lending rules that apply in Shepherdstown
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in West Virginia, and therefore in Shepherdstown.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Traditional payday lending is generally prohibited; check cashers are regulated under W. Va. Code ch. 32A Source says: Traditional "Payday Lenders" are generally prohibited within this state. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated consumer lender license required from the Commissioner (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-101) Source says: Unless a person has first obtained a license from the commissioner authorizing the person to make regulated consumer loans | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) Source says: The West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions is charged with the regulation and supervision of financial institutions chartered by the State of West Virginia. | West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions (WV DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 31% per year on unsecured loans of $3,500 or less; 27% on $3,500–$15,000; 18% above $15,000 (W. Va. Code § 46A-4-107) Source says: the loan finance charge, calculated according to the actuarial method, may not exceed 31 percent per year | West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Shepherdstown
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Shepherdstown:
- 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 West Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.