Personal loans in Akron, OH

Akron lost roughly 0.9% of its population across the 2020-to-2023 comparison. Two households in Akron with comparable incomes can still be offered different rates; the city's 188,701 residents are not the reason.

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

Compare loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

About 188,701 people live in Akron, placing it 5th of 924 Census places in Ohio. The closest larger place is Cleveland, OH about 29 miles away. State law, not city hall, decides what a lender may do to Akron's roughly 188,701 residents, and a state regulator supervises it. Price two or three terms so you can see which payment is truly affordable in Akron.

Local context for Akron

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

Land, water and location for Akron

The Census Gazetteer records 61.9 square miles of land and 0.34 square miles of water within Akron. That land carries about 3,047 people per square mile. The largest place in Ohio, Columbus, lies about 108 miles away. A 50-mile radius around Akron takes in 1 places that are larger. The 100-mile radius contains 2 larger places.

The Akron borrowing checklist

Before you apply in Akron, a community of about 188,701, work through these steps:

  1. Pull your credit reports first and correct any error before a lender sees the file.
  2. Price the payment first with our personal loan calculator before any lender quotes you.
  3. Line up several pre-qualified offers and let the APR decide.
  4. Check the Ohio regulator's records to confirm the lender is licensed here.
  5. Test the payment against your current bills before you commit.
  6. Weigh a shorter term's higher payment against the interest it saves.
  7. Keep the amount to the expense; an approval is not a reason to take more.

None of these steps is Akron-specific: the same Ohio licensing and disclosure rules reach all 188,701 residents.

The state rulebook for Akron

When Ohio does not publish a figure, the row links to the source instead of inventing a number; Akron is bound by the same rules.

RuleDetailSource
State lending regulatorOhio 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
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
Payday lending statusLegal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount.
Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403).		Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication)
as of 2026-09-16

Akron's place among Ohio's 924 places

Against Ohio's other places, Akron accounts for about 2.5% of the state's population and ranks 5th of 924 by size. Its 2020-to-2023 change ranks 444th of 924 Ohio places, putting it near the 52th percentile for growth. Its roughly 3,047 residents per square mile place it 57th among Ohio's places. Between 2020 and 2023 the count changed by roughly 1,717 residents.

Lender access in Akron

At roughly 3,047 people per square mile, Akron is fairly dense; 1 larger places lie within 50 miles. Distance to a branch rarely matters for Akron's 188,701 residents: the application is online and the price follows your credit file. The nearest larger city, Cleveland, OH about 29 miles away.

Compare personal loan offers Run the numbers first

How we get paid: if you apply through the link above, a lending partner may send us a referral fee. It never changes the rate you are offered or what we publish. We are not a lender and we do not process applications. The lowest rates are only available to the most qualified applicants. Full disclosure.

Common questions

What are my options in Akron 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 Akron is the same as anywhere in Ohio.
What loan size can I expect in Akron?
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 Akron?
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 Akron 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

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