Wilkinsburg at a glance
- Population: 13,813, the 42nd-largest community in Pennsylvania out of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 14,350 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.7% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 42nd by size among 1,013 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 96% of places in Pennsylvania rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 40.4442, -79.8733 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Pittsburgh, PA (5 mi); Baldwin, PA (6 mi); Monroeville, PA (6 mi); West Mifflin, PA (6 mi); McKeesport, PA (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller towns nearby: Edgewood, PA (1 mi); Forest Hills, PA (2 mi); Churchill, PA (2 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Wilkinsburg
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.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Wilkinsburg
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Wilkinsburg
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Wilkinsburg:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.