Personal loans in Mer Rouge, LA

Mer Rouge is home to roughly 457 people and stands 217th by size out of 302 Census places in Louisiana. A 2020-to-2023 comparison shows Mer Rouge down by about 6.4%.

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

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Mer Rouge is a small community in Louisiana, with an estimated 457 residents, and every licensed lender here follows the same state rulebook. State law, not city hall, decides what a lender may do to Mer Rouge's roughly 457 residents, and a state regulator supervises it. Price two or three terms so you can see which payment is truly affordable in Mer Rouge. The closest larger city is Bastrop, LA about 7 miles away.

Borrowing in Mer Rouge: the local picture

Here is the sourced Census picture for Mer Rouge, plus the Louisiana lending rules that apply to a loan taken out here.

Population: a Census-estimated 457, 217th among Louisiana's 302 places (Vintage 2023).
Population trend: Lower by roughly 6.4% since the 2020 count.
People gained or lost: about 31 fewer since the 2020 base.
Size percentile: about 28% of Louisiana communities are smaller than Mer Rouge (457 residents).
Population density: 390 people per square mile on 1.2 square miles of land.
By land area: Mer Rouge ranks 245th among Louisiana's 302 places, at 1.2 sq mi.
State share: roughly 0.0% of Louisiana's residents live in Mer Rouge (457 people).
National standing: Mer Rouge ranks 13,540th of 19,457 US places.
Growth rank: Mer Rouge's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 279th of 302 places in Louisiana.
Against the state trend: Mer Rouge's 6.4% change compares with a Louisiana average of -2.1% across its 302 places.
Density rank: Mer Rouge places 186th among Louisiana's places by people per square mile.
Density vs Louisiana: Mer Rouge's 390 people per square mile compare with a state median of 534.
Location: the Census Gazetteer records it at 32.7769, -91.7944.
Nearest larger cities: Bastrop (7 mi); Sterlington (17 mi); Rayville (21 mi); Oak Grove (24 mi); Monroe (24 mi). Online lenders reach Mer Rouge no matter how far the nearest branch is.
Nearest smaller towns: Collinston (8 mi); Oak Ridge (11 mi); Bonita (12 mi).
Smaller neighbours: 21 places smaller than Mer Rouge sit within 50 miles.
Larger places within 100 miles: 119.

Lender access in Mer Rouge

With about 390 residents per square mile, Mer Rouge is lightly settled, and 20 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. A Louisiana licence lets a lender serve Mer Rouge without a local office, so branch density does not change what its 457 residents are offered. For a larger market, the closest option is Bastrop, LA about 7 miles away.

How a Mer Rouge personal loan is priced

With roughly 457 residents, Mer Rouge is a small community; its personal loans are typically unsecured, priced from your credit rather than the city's size. A lender serving Mer Rouge's 457 residents must disclose the APR and finance charge in writing before you sign. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Mer Rouge loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.

A practical checklist for Mer Rouge borrowers

A sensible order of operations for a loan in Mer Rouge, home to about 457 people:

Get all three reports, dispute anything wrong, and keep the corrected file for your applications.
Test your amount and term in the personal loan calculator first.
Pre-qualify with three or more lenders, then compare the APR rather than the interest rate.
Make sure the lender appears in the Louisiana regulator's licence list.
Make sure the new payment leaves room in a budget you already keep.
Pick the shortest term whose payment you can comfortably afford.
Borrow only what the purpose requires, not the maximum you are offered.

The process is identical across Louisiana; what changes is your credit file, not the fact that Mer Rouge holds 457 people.

How Mer Rouge compares across Louisiana

Among Louisiana's 302 places, Mer Rouge sits at 217th for population, a share of roughly 0.0% of the state. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Mer Rouge ranks 279th of 302 in Louisiana (about the 8th percentile). By density, at about 390 people per square mile, it ranks 186th in Louisiana. By land area, its 1.2 square miles rank 245th of 302 places in Louisiana.

Which Louisiana laws govern a loan in Mer Rouge

This table holds the Louisiana rate and licensing rules for consumer loans made to Mer Rouge's 457 residents.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions (OFI), Non-Depository Division Source says: "OFI is responsible for the supervision of various entities which provide financial services to the citizens of the State of Louisiana."	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status	Legal and licensed — deferred presentment and small loans ($350 or less, 60 days or less) under OFI-issued licenses Source says: "Persons who make loans of $350 or less for a term of 60 days or less."	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Consumer loan license required from OFI before making consumer loans Source says: "Persons who wish to engage in the business of making consumer loans must hold a consumer loan license issued by this Office"	Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16

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Common questions

What are my options in Mer Rouge 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 Mer Rouge is the same as anywhere in Louisiana.

What loan size can I expect in Mer Rouge?

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 Mer Rouge?

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 Mer Rouge 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

Bastrop, LA — population 8,989
Collinston, LA — population 256
Oak Ridge, LA — population 116
Bonita, LA — population 161
Sterlington, LA — population 2,365
Rayville, LA — population 3,224
Wilmot, AR — population 395
Epps, LA — population 340