Waukesha at a glance
- Population: 8,484 — 115th in Wisconsin, which has 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 8,454 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 0.4% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 115th by size among 605 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 81% of Wisconsin places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 42.9604, -88.2493.
- Nearest larger cities: Waukesha, WI (3 mi); New Berlin, WI (6 mi); Pewaukee, WI (7 mi); Mukwonago, WI (8 mi); Muskego, WI (8 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Vernon, WI (6 mi); Big Bend, WI (6 mi); Wales, WI (7 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Waukesha
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Waukesha
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Waukesha
A few practical steps will make the process in Waukesha less costly:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.