Watauga at a glance
- Population: about 360 residents, ranking 307th of 344 Census places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 351 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 2.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Tennessee places: the 307th-largest of 344 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 11% of the Census places in Tennessee (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.3683 latitude, -82.2920 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Elizabethton, TN (4 mi); Johnson City, TN (5 mi); Bluff City, TN (6 mi); Unicoi, TN (10 mi); Jonesborough, TN (11 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Seven Devils, NC (31 mi); Grandfather Village, NC (31 mi); Crossnore, NC (31 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Watauga
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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.
Tennessee lending rules that apply in Watauga
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Tennessee, and therefore in Watauga.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Licensed; deferred presentment services (payday) lenders must obtain a TDFI license, including internet lenders (Tenn. Code Ann. § 45-17-103) Source says: deferred presentment services in this state through the use of the internet, facsimile, telephone, or other means without having first obtained a license | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | TDFI Compliance Division licenses industrial loan & thrift companies, deferred presentment companies, flexible credit companies, and other consumer lenders Source says: The Compliance Division is responsible for the licensing and regulatory supervision of the following types of financial institutions operating in Tennessee | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) Source says: The Department regulates banks, credit unions, trust companies, business and industrial development corporations, industrial loan and thrift companies | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10.75% per annum (maximum effective formula rate for written contracts, announced September 15, 2026) Source says: the maximum effective formula rate of interest in Tennessee is 10.75 percent per annum | Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Watauga
Before you share your details with a lender in Watauga:
- 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 Tennessee using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.