Waconia at a glance
- Population: 13,742, the 84th-largest community in Minnesota out of 853 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 13,030 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 5.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Minnesota places: 84th of 853 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: larger than about 90% of the Census places in Minnesota (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.8415, -93.7901 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Chaska, MN (9 mi); Chanhassen, MN (11 mi); Shakopee, MN (16 mi); Eden Prairie, MN (16 mi); Minnetonka, MN (17 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller places: St. Bonifacius, MN (5 mi); Cologne, MN (5 mi); Mayer, MN (6 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Waconia
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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.
Minnesota lending rules that apply in Waconia
Each row below is a Minnesota rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Minnesota Department of Commerce (commissioner of commerce) Source says: ""Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday ability-to-repay requirement | Required for payday loans with an APR above 36% (Minn. Stat. § 47.603) Source says: "This section applies to all payday loans with an annual percentage rate that exceeds 36 percent." | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per year legal rate of interest; a different rate may be contracted for in writing (Minn. Stat. § 334.01) Source says: "The interest for any legal indebtedness shall be at the rate of $6 upon $100 for a year" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed; APR capped at 36%, or up to 50% with an ability-to-repay analysis (Minn. Stat. §§ 47.60, 47.601, 47.603) Source says: "The cap on that annual percentage rate is set at either 36%, or up to 50% if the lender conducts an ability to repay analysis" | Minnesota Department of Commerce as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated loan license required from the commissioner for loans within the Chapter 56 threshold (Minn. Stat. § 56.01) Source says: "without first obtaining a license from the commissioner, no person shall engage in the business of making loans of money" | Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Waconia
Run through this list before signing anything in Waconia:
- 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 Minnesota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.