Personal loans in Martins Ferry, OH

In Martins Ferry, one of 924 Census places in Ohio, the figure to compare across lenders is the APR, not the advertised rate. With an estimated 6,076 residents, Martins Ferry is the 233rd-largest of 924 places in Ohio.

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

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A 2020-to-2023 comparison shows Martins Ferry down by about 2.9%. Every figure below is Ohio's own, applied to Martins Ferry's 6,076 residents, with the publisher and retrieval date attached. Compare APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in most fees on a Martins Ferry loan. The closest larger place is Wheeling, WV about 3 miles away.

Martins Ferry by the numbers

The figures below are Martins Ferry's own — Census population, land area and coordinates — followed by the Ohio rules.

Population: an estimated 6,076 residents, 233rd of 924 places in Ohio (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
Population trend: Lower by roughly 2.9% since the 2020 count.
Absolute change: 182 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
Size percentile: bigger than about 75% of the places in Ohio, with 6,076 residents in Martins Ferry.
Population density: about 2,610 people per square mile (Census land area 2.3 sq mi).
Land area: Martins Ferry covers 2.3 square miles, the 333rd-largest area among Ohio's 924 places.
Within Ohio: about 0.1% of the state's population lives in Martins Ferry.
National standing: Martins Ferry ranks 4,326th of 19,457 US places.
Growth in Ohio: Martins Ferry stands 868th by percentage change from 2020 to 2023, among 924 places.
Versus Ohio: the state average change is +0.9%, while Martins Ferry moved 2.9%.
Density rank: Martins Ferry is the 94th most densely settled place in Ohio.
Density vs Ohio: Martins Ferry's 2,610 people per square mile compare with a state median of 1,289.
Location: latitude 40.1043, longitude -80.7291 (Census Gazetteer).
Nearest larger cities: Wheeling (3 mi); Moundsville (13 mi); Steubenville (18 mi); Weirton (23 mi); Washington (26 mi). A bigger neighbour may offer more branches; the rate you see still follows your credit, not your address.
Smaller places close by: Brookside (3 mi); Bridgeport (3 mi); Clearview (3 mi).
Smaller places within 50 miles: 224 of them.
At 100 miles: 116 larger Census places fall inside that radius.

What a Martins Ferry borrower is actually offered

With roughly 6,076 residents, Martins Ferry is a small town; its personal loans are typically unsecured, priced from your credit rather than the city's size. A lender serving Martins Ferry's 6,076 residents must disclose the APR and finance charge in writing before you sign. Shortening the term on a Martins Ferry loan raises the monthly payment but cuts the interest; lengthening it does the reverse.

The state rulebook for Martins Ferry

Below are the Ohio rules that apply to a loan made in Martins Ferry, each with the regulator that issued it.

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

Steps to take before a Martins Ferry loan

Before you apply in Martins Ferry, a community of about 6,076, work through these steps:

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.
Pre-qualify with three or more lenders, then compare the APR rather than the interest rate.
Look the lender up in the Ohio regulator's licence records before you sign.
Keep the amount to the expense; an approval is not a reason to take more.
Write down the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before you apply.
If the balances are already a strain, seek nonprofit credit counselling before adding a loan.

None of these steps is Martins Ferry-specific: the same Ohio licensing and disclosure rules reach all 6,076 residents.

How lenders reach Martins Ferry

With about 2,610 residents per square mile, Martins Ferry is fairly dense, and 31 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. What is available to Martins Ferry's 6,076 borrowers is set by Ohio licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. The nearest bigger place is Wheeling, WV about 3 miles away.

The geography behind Martins Ferry

The Census Gazetteer records about 2.3 square miles of land within Martins Ferry, with no significant water area listed. That land carries about 2,610 people per square mile. The state's population centre of gravity, Columbus, is roughly 120 miles away. Counting outward 50 miles, 31 larger communities surround Martins Ferry. By land area it ranks 333rd of 924 Ohio places.

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Common questions

What are my options in Martins Ferry 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 Martins Ferry is the same as anywhere in Ohio.

What loan size can I expect in Martins Ferry?

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 Martins Ferry?

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 Martins Ferry 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

Bridgeport, OH — population 1,534
Wheeling, WV — population 26,208
Brookside, OH — population 524
Clearview, WV — population 459
Yorkville, OH — population 942
Tiltonsville, OH — population 1,225
Bethlehem, WV — population 2,553
Rayland, OH — population 383