West Salem at a glance
- Population: 5,298 — 148th in Wisconsin, which has 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,280 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.3% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: the 148th-largest of 605 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 76% of the places in Wisconsin (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 43.8985, longitude -91.0875 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Onalaska, WI (6 mi); La Crosse, WI (9 mi); Holmen, WI (10 mi); Sparta, WI (14 mi); Tomah, WI (30 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller towns: Bangor, WI (5 mi); Rockland, WI (9 mi); La Crescent, MN (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in West Salem
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in West Salem
Each row below is a Wisconsin rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 West Salem
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in West Salem:
- 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.