Personal loans in Bay St. Louis, MS

The 2020 count to the 2023 estimate shows about 13.2% growth in Bay St. Louis. Bay St. Louis is home to roughly 10,511 people and stands 40th by size out of 299 Census places in Mississippi. Bay St.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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Louis is a small town in Mississippi, with an estimated 10,511 residents, and every licensed lender here follows the same state rulebook. Begin with the payment, then weigh APR and total interest across the lenders that reach Bay St. Louis's 10,511 residents. A lender that serves Bay St. Louis operates under Mississippi lending statutes and a Mississippi supervisor. The closest larger place is Long Beach, MS about 12 miles away.

Where Bay St. Louis stands

Set out below is Bay St. Louis's local context next to the state-level rules that reach every lender here.

Population: 10,511 people, a figure that places Bay St. Louis 40th among the 299 Census places in Mississippi (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
Population trend: About 13.2% above the 2020 Census base.
Change in people: the 2020-to-2023 comparison is a gain of about 1,222 residents.
Size percentile: Bay St. Louis's 10,511 people outrank roughly 87% of the places in Mississippi.
Population density: about 715 people per square mile across 14.7 square miles of land (Census Gazetteer area, Vintage 2023 population).
Land area: Bay St. Louis covers 14.7 square miles, the 43rd-largest area among Mississippi's 299 places.
Water area: Bay St. Louis has 11.93 square miles of water, ranking 2nd of 299 places in Mississippi.
Share of state population: Bay St. Louis's 10,511 residents are about 0.7% of Mississippi.
National rank: Bay St. Louis sits 3,038th by population among the 19,457 places in this dataset.
Growth in Mississippi: Bay St. Louis stands 5th by percentage change from 2020 to 2023, among 299 places.
Versus Mississippi: the state average change is -2.3%, while Bay St. Louis moved 13.2%.
Density in Mississippi: Bay St. Louis ranks 75th by people per square mile.
Against the state median: Bay St. Louis runs about 715 residents per square mile, where the Mississippi median is 434.
Location: 30.3234 / -89.3588, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
Nearest larger cities: Long Beach (12 mi); Gulfport (19 mi); Picayune (23 mi); Slidell (25 mi); Biloxi (26 mi). Living near a larger metro rarely changes what is available in Bay St. Louis.
Smaller communities within reach: Waveland (3 mi); Diamondhead (4 mi); Pass Christian (7 mi).
Smaller neighbours: 12 places smaller than Bay St. Louis sit within 50 miles.
At 100 miles: 30 larger Census places fall inside that radius.

What Mississippi law requires in Bay St. Louis

The rows below set out what a licensed lender must follow in Mississippi, and so for Bay St. Louis's roughly 10,511 residents.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (DBCF) Source says: "The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance's (DBCF) mission is to regulate, supervise and safeguard financial institutions chartered and licensed in Mississippi"	Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Small loan license required (Small Loan Regulatory Law; Miss. Code § 75-67-105) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending money ... without being the holder of a valid and subsisting license"	Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance as of 2026-09-16
Delayed-deposit (payday) fee caps	$20 per $100 advanced on checks ≤$250; $21.95 per $100 on checks over $250 (DBCF rule) Source says: "Delayed deposit transaction: $20.00 per $100.00 advanced for checks $250.00 and under"	Mississippi Secretary of State (DBCF administrative regulations) as of 2026-09-16

How personal loans work in Bay St. Louis

A Bay St. Louis personal loan is an installment loan: a lump sum, then fixed monthly payments over a set term, priced off your credit rather than its 10,511 residents. Federal Truth in Lending rules require a Bay St. Louis lender to disclose the APR and finance charge before you sign. Because the payment is fixed, the total cost of a Bay St. Louis loan is knowable in advance — unlike a revolving card balance.

Borrowing reach in Bay St. Louis

Bay St. Louis is moderately settled, with about 715 people per square mile and 13 larger places within 50 miles. What is available to Bay St. Louis's 10,511 borrowers is set by Mississippi licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. The nearest larger city, Long Beach, MS about 12 miles away.

A practical checklist for Bay St. Louis borrowers

Before you apply in Bay St. Louis, a community of about 10,511, work through these steps:

Check all three credit reports for mistakes, because an error you fix now is a lower rate later.
Run the numbers on the personal loan calculator so you know the payment before you apply.
Line up several pre-qualified offers and let the APR decide.
Look the lender up in the Mississippi regulator's licence records before you sign.
When debt already feels heavy, a nonprofit credit counsellor is worth a call first.
Look for an origination fee or prepayment penalty in the written disclosure.
Make sure the new payment leaves room in a budget you already keep.

What differs between Bay St. Louis and the rest of Mississippi is not the process but the borrower's own file, among the 10,511 people here.

Bay St. Louis: area, density and distance

Bay St. Louis's land area is about 14.7 square miles; a further 11.93 square miles is water. The resulting density is about 715 people per square mile. The largest place in Mississippi, Jackson, lies about 147 miles away. Bay St. Louis has 13 larger places within a 50-mile radius. Within the same 50 miles lie 12 smaller Census places.

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Common questions

What are my options in Bay St. Louis if my credit is poor?

Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Bay St. Louis is the same as anywhere in Mississippi.

What loan size can I expect in Bay St. Louis?

Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.

Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Bay St. Louis?

For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.

Does comparing loans in Bay St. Louis cost me credit score points?

Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

Waveland, MS — population 6,990
Diamondhead, MS — population 9,236
Pass Christian, MS — population 6,255
Long Beach, MS — population 16,991
Gulfport, MS — population 72,823
Picayune, MS — population 11,862
Pearl River, LA — population 2,648
Slidell, LA — population 28,510