Avenal at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 14,075 residents, ranking 330th of 482 places in California (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 13,695 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 2.8% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 330th in population of 482 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 32% of places in California are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 36.0311, -120.1162 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Coalinga, CA (14 mi); Lemoore, CA (25 mi); Corcoran, CA (31 mi); Hanford, CA (33 mi); El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA (41 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Huron, CA (12 mi); San Joaquin, CA (40 mi); Kingsburg, CA (46 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Avenal
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
California lending rules that apply in Avenal
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in California, and therefore in Avenal.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Avenal
Before you commit to a personal loan in Avenal, work through these steps:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.