Waukon at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 3,777 residents, ranking 105th of 940 places in Iowa (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,826 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.3% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 105th of the state's 940 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 89% of the Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.2685 latitude, -91.4785 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Decorah, IA (16 mi); Prairie du Chien, WI (23 mi); Cresco, IA (33 mi); Viroqua, WI (36 mi); La Crescent, MN (40 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Waterville, IA (10 mi); Postville, IA (13 mi); Lansing, IA (14 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Waukon
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Waukon
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Waukon: 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 Waukon
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Waukon:
- 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.