Smithville at a glance
- Population: 4,126, the 418th-largest community in Texas out of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,918 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.3% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 418th by size among 1,224 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 66% of Texas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 30.0088, longitude -97.1519 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Bastrop, TX (12 mi); La Grange, TX (18 mi); Giddings, TX (18 mi); Elgin, TX (28 mi); Lockhart, TX (33 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Flatonia, TX (22 mi); Waelder, TX (23 mi); Webberville, TX (26 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Smithville
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Texas lending rules that apply in Smithville
The table lists the Texas rules that apply to a loan made in Smithville, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Smithville
A few practical steps will make the process in Smithville less costly:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.