Trafford at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 3,243 residents, ranking 298th of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,317 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 2.2% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 298th of the state's 1,013 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 71% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 40.3846, -79.7576.
- Nearest larger cities: Monroeville, PA (3 mi); Turtle Creek, PA (4 mi); White Oak, PA (4 mi); Duquesne, PA (5 mi); Irwin, PA (5 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller places: Wall, PA (2 mi); Pitcairn, PA (2 mi); East McKeesport, PA (3 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Trafford
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Trafford
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Trafford: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Trafford
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Trafford:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.