Altamont at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,639, placing it 345th among New York's 595 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,668 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.7% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 345th out of 595 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 42% of places in New York rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.7053, -74.0336 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Voorheesville, NY (6 mi); Schenectady, NY (9 mi); Scotia, NY (10 mi); Colonie, NY (10 mi); Albany, NY (12 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Delanson, NY (8 mi); Esperance, NY (12 mi); Schoharie, NY (14 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Altamont
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
New York lending rules that apply in Altamont
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Altamont
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Altamont:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.