Stoughton at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 13,044 residents, ranking 72nd of 605 places in Wisconsin (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 13,173 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.0% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 72nd by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 88% of places in Wisconsin are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.9238, -89.2225 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Fitchburg, WI (11 mi); Madison, WI (15 mi); Verona, WI (17 mi); Sun Prairie, WI (18 mi); Middleton, WI (19 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places nearby: McFarland, WI (7 mi); Oregon, WI (8 mi); Brooklyn, WI (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Stoughton
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Stoughton
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Stoughton
A few practical steps will make the process in Stoughton 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.