Stratford at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 1,886 residents, ranking 620th of 1,224 places in Texas (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 1,935 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.5% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 620th largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 49% of Texas's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.3376, -102.0760 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Cactus, TX (21 mi); Dalhart, TX (31 mi); Dumas, TX (33 mi); Guymon, OK (41 mi); Spearman, TX (50 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Texhoma, TX (19 mi); Texhoma, OK (20 mi); Sunray, TX (26 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Stratford
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Texas lending rules that apply in Stratford
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Stratford: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Stratford
Run through this list before signing anything in Stratford:
- 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.