St. Joseph at a glance
- Population: 70,634 people, the 9th-largest place among Missouri's 937 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 72,477 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.5% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Missouri places: 9th-largest of 937 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 99% of Missouri's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 39.7595, -94.8211.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Kansas City, KS (44 mi); Kansas City, MO (46 mi); Independence, MO (53 mi); Lawrence, KS (60 mi); Overland Park, KS (61 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Elwood, KS (4 mi); Wathena, KS (6 mi); Country Club, MO (6 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in St. Joseph
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
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.
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.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Missouri lending rules that apply in St. Joseph
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Missouri, and therefore in St. Joseph.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Additional loan fee cap (30+ day loans) | Up to 10% of principal, capped at $100 (RSMo § 408.140) Source says: "a fee, not to exceed ten percent of the principal amount loaned not to exceed one hundred dollars may be charged by the lender" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per annum, or the higher published 'market rate' (RSMo § 408.030) Source says: "a rate of interest not exceeding ten percent per annum on money due or to become due upon any contract" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed — unsecured loans of $500 or less require a license from the Director of the Division of Finance (RSMo § 408.500) Source says: "in the business of making unsecured loans of five hundred dollars or less shall obtain a license from the director of the division of finance" | Missouri Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer credit lenders licensed and regulated by the Division of Finance's consumer credit section (Chapters 367 and 408, RSMo) Source says: "The consumer credit section of the Missouri Division of Finance is responsible for licensing and regulating various types of consumer finance companies" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Missouri Division of Finance (Department of Commerce and Insurance) Source says: "We regulate state-chartered banks, trust companies, consumer credit facilities, mortgage brokers, and savings and loan institutions" | Missouri Division of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in St. Joseph
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in St. Joseph:
- 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 Missouri using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.