Personal loans in Clinton, SC

An estimated 7,714 people make their home in Clinton, a figure that ranks 51st in South Carolina. The 2020 count to the 2023 estimate shows about 1.0% growth in Clinton.

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

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The roughly 7,714 people who live in Clinton borrow under South Carolina rules; city hall sets no personal-loan rate. For the 7,714 people in Clinton, South Carolina runs its own consumer-lending licensing, and the sourced table below lists the figures that apply. Verify the lender's South Carolina licence against the regulator named below before borrowing in Clinton. The nearest larger metro is Laurens, SC about 9 miles away.

What the Census records for Clinton

Two layers matter for a Clinton borrower: the local population picture and South Carolina's consumer-lending statutes.

Population: 7,714 residents; Clinton is the 51st-largest of 271 places in South Carolina (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
Population trend: A rise of about 1.0% from 2020 to 2023.
Net change: roughly 80 more people than the 2020 Census counted.
Size percentile: Clinton's 7,714 people outrank roughly 81% of the places in South Carolina.
Population density: 738 people per square mile on 10.5 square miles of land.
By land area: Clinton ranks 42nd among South Carolina's 271 places, at 10.5 sq mi.
Water: Clinton holds about 0.06 square miles, the 71st-largest water area in South Carolina.
Share of state population: Clinton's 7,714 residents are about 0.4% of South Carolina.
National rank: Clinton sits 3,759th by population among the 19,457 places in this dataset.
Growth rank: Clinton ranks 129th among South Carolina's 271 places for the 2020-to-2023 change.
State comparison: South Carolina's places average +2.6% for 2020-to-2023, against Clinton's 1.0%.
Density in South Carolina: Clinton ranks 115th by people per square mile.
Density vs South Carolina: Clinton's 738 people per square mile compare with a state median of 584.
Location: mapped by the US Census Bureau at 34.4739, -81.8609.
Nearest larger cities: Laurens (9 mi); Newberry (20 mi); Union (22 mi); Fountain Inn (25 mi); Greenwood (25 mi). A branch is convenient; it is not what sets your APR.
Nearest smaller towns: Cross Hill (14 mi); Waterloo (14 mi); Whitmire (14 mi) — useful context for the surrounding area.
Within a 50-mile radius: 60 smaller Census places.
Larger places within 100 miles: 69.

What South Carolina law requires in Clinton

This table holds the South Carolina rate and licensing rules for consumer loans made to Clinton's 7,714 residents.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division (Office of the Commissioner of Consumer Finance) Source says: "South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions Office of the Commissioner of Consumer Finance" (site heading).	South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status	Legal for licensed deferred presentment providers; max $550 advanced at one time; fee limited to 15% of principal; term up to 31 days; 2025 repeal bill S.379 introduced but not enacted. Source says: "The total amount advanced by a licensee to any customer at one time for deferred presentment or deposit may not exceed five hundred fifty dollars" (34-39-180(B)); fees capped at "fifteen percent of the principal amount of the transaction" (34-39-180(E)).	South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code of Laws) as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Consumer Finance Division licenses and regulates companies making consumer loans with APRs exceeding 12% (Title 37 Consumer Protection Code; Consumer Finance Act, Title 34, ch. 29). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Division (CFD) licenses and regulates the business activities of all companies... that make consumer loans which have annual percentage rates exceeding 12%."	South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division as of 2026-09-16

Land, water and location for Clinton

The Census Gazetteer records 10.5 square miles of land and 0.06 square miles of water within Clinton. Spread across it are roughly 738 residents per square mile. The largest place in South Carolina, Charleston, lies about 157 miles away. Counting outward 50 miles, 16 larger communities surround Clinton. Within the same 50 miles lie 60 smaller Census places.

What is available to Clinton borrowers

At roughly 738 people per square mile, Clinton is moderately settled; 16 larger places lie within 50 miles. Whether Clinton has a local branch or not, a South Carolina-licensed lender can serve its 7,714 people online on the same terms. The nearest bigger place is Laurens, SC about 9 miles away.

How personal loans work in Clinton

With roughly 7,714 residents, Clinton is a small town; its personal loans are typically unsecured, priced from your credit rather than the city's size. A lender serving Clinton's 7,714 residents must disclose the APR and finance charge in writing before you sign. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Clinton loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.

Before you apply in Clinton

Before you apply in Clinton, a community of about 7,714, work through these steps:

Pull your credit reports first and correct any error before a lender sees the file.
Use the loan calculator to test the payment on your intended amount and term.
Pre-qualify with three or more lenders, then compare the APR rather than the interest rate.
Check the South Carolina regulator's records to confirm the lender is licensed here.
Be clear on what the loan is for and how it gets repaid.
If the balances are already a strain, seek nonprofit credit counselling before adding a loan.
Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing.

In Clinton as elsewhere in South Carolina, the written terms — not the advertisement — are what count for its 7,714 residents.

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Common questions

What are my options in Clinton 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 Clinton is the same as anywhere in South Carolina.

What loan size can I expect in Clinton?

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 Clinton?

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 Clinton 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

Laurens, SC — population 9,288
Cross Hill, SC — population 413
Waterloo, SC — population 154
Whitmire, SC — population 1,424
Gray Court, SC — population 777
Silverstreet, SC — population 166
Woodruff, SC — population 4,569
Newberry, SC — population 10,866