Stuart at a glance
- Population: 1,855 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 176th-largest of 940 places in Iowa.
- 2020 Census base: 1,785 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 3.9% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 176th of 940 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 81% of places in Iowa rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 41.5005, longitude -94.3181 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Greenfield, IA (15 mi); Adel, IA (17 mi); Winterset, IA (19 mi); Dallas Center, IA (22 mi); Waukee, IA (23 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Menlo, IA (5 mi); Dexter, IA (5 mi); Redfield, IA (9 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Stuart
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Stuart
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Stuart: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Stuart
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Stuart:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.