Wausau at a glance
- Population: about 39,968, 18th by size in Wisconsin of 605 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 40,024 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 18th largest of 605 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 97% of places in Wisconsin rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.9618 latitude, -89.6465 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Appleton, WI (78 mi); Oshkosh, WI (84 mi); Green Bay, WI (87 mi); Eau Claire, WI (91 mi); Fond du Lac, WI (102 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Schofield, WI (4 mi); Rothschild, WI (6 mi); Weston, WI (7 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Wausau
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Wausau
The Wisconsin rate caps and licensing rules that reach Wausau are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| 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 Wausau
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Wausau:
- 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.