Personal loans in Lower Salem, OH

Lower Salem is a small community in Ohio, with an estimated 74 residents, and every licensed lender here follows the same state rulebook. Lower Salem shed about 2.6% of its population between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate.

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

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With 74 residents, Lower Salem outranks about 1% of the communities in Ohio. Compare APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in most fees on a Lower Salem loan. State law, not city hall, decides what a lender may do to Lower Salem's roughly 74 residents, and a state regulator supervises it. The nearest larger metro is Macksburg, OH about 6 miles away.

Where Lower Salem stands

What follows is Lower Salem's place in the Census record, alongside the Ohio rules that govern a personal loan made here.

Population: an estimated 74 residents, 913th of 924 places in Ohio (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
Population trend: The 2020-to-2023 change is negative, near 2.6%.
People gained or lost: about 2 fewer since the 2020 base.
Size percentile: Lower Salem sits ahead of around 1% of Ohio places, at 74 people.
Density: the Census land area of 0.1 sq mi holds about 1,254 people per square mile.
Land area: Lower Salem covers 0.1 square miles, the 920th-largest area among Ohio's 924 places.
Share of Ohio: Lower Salem holds about 0.0% of the state's population, some 74 people.
National rank: Lower Salem is 18,577th of 19,457 places nationwide.
Growth rank: Lower Salem's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 833rd of 924 places in Ohio.
Versus Ohio: the state average change is +0.9%, while Lower Salem moved 2.6%.
Density in Ohio: Lower Salem ranks 482nd by people per square mile.
Density vs Ohio: Lower Salem's 1,254 people per square mile compare with a state median of 1,289.
Location: mapped by the US Census Bureau at 39.5651, -81.3925.
Nearest larger cities: Macksburg (6 mi); Lowell (7 mi); Dexter City (8 mi); Marietta (10 mi); Williamstown (12 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Lower Salem whether or not they keep a local branch.
Smaller towns nearby: Stafford (12 mi); Graysville (13 mi); Miltonsburg (22 mi).
Within a 50-mile radius: 4 smaller Census places.
Within 100 miles: 582 places are larger than Lower Salem.

Getting a loan in Lower Salem

Lower Salem is a moderately settled community of about 74 people, with 102 larger places inside a 50-mile radius. A Ohio licence lets a lender serve Lower Salem without a local office, so branch density does not change what its 74 residents are offered. The nearest bigger place is Macksburg, OH about 6 miles away.

Steps to take before a Lower Salem loan

These steps shape the offer you get in Lower Salem, a place of about 74 people:

Start with the credit file: order the reports, fix the errors, then apply.
Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
Get several pre-qualifications and compare APR side by side before choosing.
Verify the lender's Ohio licence with the regulator listed on this page.
Do not borrow more than the expense calls for, even if a lender approves a larger amount.
Write down the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before you apply.
If debt is already a struggle, talk to a nonprofit credit counsellor before borrowing more.

The process is identical across Ohio; what changes is your credit file, not the fact that Lower Salem holds 74 people.

Ohio rules behind a Lower Salem personal loan

The rows below set out what a licensed lender must follow in Ohio, and so for Lower Salem's roughly 74 residents.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses."	Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders).	Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16
Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap)	8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network]	Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16

How personal loans work in Lower Salem

In Lower Salem, a small community of about 74, the amount is advanced up front and repaid in fixed installments; the city's size does not change the pricing. Two numbers drive a Lower Salem loan: the APR, which includes fees, and the term, which decides how long you keep paying. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Lower Salem loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.

Lower Salem on the map

The Census Gazetteer records about 0.1 square miles of land within Lower Salem, with no significant water area listed. With 74 residents, the land area yields roughly 1,254 people per square mile. The largest place in Ohio, Columbus, lies about 89 miles away. Lower Salem has 102 larger places within a 50-mile radius. Within the same 50 miles lie 4 smaller Census places.

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Common questions

What are my options in Lower Salem 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 Lower Salem is the same as anywhere in Ohio.

What loan size can I expect in Lower Salem?

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 Lower Salem?

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 Lower Salem 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

Macksburg, OH — population 114
Lowell, OH — population 553
Dexter City, OH — population 79
Marietta, OH — population 13,090
Williamstown, WV — population 2,955
Stafford, OH — population 68
Caldwell, OH — population 1,869
Belmont, WV — population 834