South St. Paul at a glance
- Population: 20,664 people, the 61st-largest place among Minnesota's 853 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 20,756 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.4% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 61st largest of 853 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 93% of the Census places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 44.8880, -93.0405 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: West St. Paul, MN (2 mi); Inver Grove Heights, MN (4 mi); St. Paul, MN (5 mi); Woodbury, MN (6 mi); Eagan, MN (8 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places nearby: Newport, MN (2 mi); Sunfish Lake, MN (3 mi); St. Paul Park, MN (4 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in South St. Paul
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
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.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in South St. Paul
The Minnesota rate caps and licensing rules that reach South St. Paul are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in South St. Paul
Before you commit to a personal loan in South St. Paul, work through these steps:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.