Williamsport at a glance
- Population: 27,470 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 20th-largest of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania.
- 2020 Census base: 27,761 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 20th largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 98% of Pennsylvania's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.2400 latitude, -77.0356 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: State College, PA (53 mi); Hazleton, PA (59 mi); Wilkes-Barre, PA (60 mi); Harrisburg, PA (67 mi); Scranton, PA (72 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Duboistown, PA (1 mi); South Williamsport, PA (2 mi); Montoursville, PA (6 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Williamsport
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Williamsport
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Williamsport
Run through this list before signing anything in Williamsport:
- 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.