Staunton at a glance
- Population: roughly 25,915 people; 21st of 227 places in Virginia (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 25,753 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 0.6% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 21st out of 227 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 91% of places in Virginia rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.1580 / -79.0619, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Harrisonburg, VA (22 mi); Charlottesville, VA (32 mi); Lynchburg, VA (53 mi); Roanoke, VA (78 mi); Winchester, VA (85 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller towns nearby: Waynesboro, VA (11 mi); Grottoes, VA (15 mi); Mount Crawford, VA (15 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Staunton
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest 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.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Staunton
The table carries the Virginia rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Staunton.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Staunton
Run through this list before signing anything in Staunton:
- 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 Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.