Williamsburg at a glance
- Population: 15,847 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 34th-largest of 227 places in Virginia.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 15,413 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.8% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 34th of 227 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 85% of places in Virginia are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 37.2695, -76.7082 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Newport News, VA (17 mi); Hampton, VA (27 mi); Hopewell, VA (33 mi); Portsmouth, VA (34 mi); Norfolk, VA (35 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller places: Surry, VA (11 mi); Claremont, VA (15 mi); Dendron, VA (20 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Williamsburg
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.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Williamsburg
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Williamsburg: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Williamsburg
Before you commit to a personal loan in Williamsburg, work through these steps:
- 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 Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.