Auburn at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 24,793, placing it 5th among Maine's 23 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 24,055 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 3.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maine places: 5th of 23 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 78% of the places in Maine (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.0845, -70.2496 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Lewiston, ME (4 mi); Portland, ME (31 mi); South Portland, ME (31 mi); Rochester, NH (65 mi); Dover, NH (70 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Bath, ME (23 mi); Gardiner, ME (24 mi); Hallowell, ME (26 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Auburn
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Maine lending rules that apply in Auburn
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Maine, and therefore in Auburn.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required when the finance charge exceeds 12 1/4% per year (or the loan is secured by real estate); applications via NMLS Source says: "Anyone who makes, takes assignment of, or services consumer loans in which the rate of the finance charge ... exceeds 12 1/4% per year" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) Source says: "The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection licenses and registers the following business entities" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Minimum finance charge for supervised lenders | $5 (loans ≤$75), $15 ($75–<$250), $25 (≥$250) — 9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(7) Source says: "the lender may contract for and receive a minimum charge of not more than ... Twenty-five dollars when the amount financed is $250 or more" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 30% per year on unpaid balances up to $2,000; 24% on $2,000–$4,000; 18% above $4,000 (9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(2)) Source says: "30% per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is $2,000 or less" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders are licensed as supervised lenders by the BCCP and subject to the 9-A § 2-401 finance-charge caps Source says: "Supervised Lenders Including Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Non-Mortgage Supervised Lenders, Payday Lenders, and Insurance Premium Finance Companies" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Auburn
Run through this list before signing anything in Auburn:
- 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 Maine using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.