Braintree Town at a glance
- Population: 38,490 — 36th in Massachusetts, which has 54 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 39,148 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.7% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Massachusetts places: the 36th-largest of 54 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 33% of places in Massachusetts are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.2062 latitude, -71.0023 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Weymouth Town, MA (3 mi); Quincy, MA (4 mi); Brockton, MA (9 mi); Boston, MA (9 mi); Cambridge, MA (13 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Randolph Town, MA (3 mi); Winthrop Town, MA (12 mi); Chelsea, MA (13 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Braintree Town
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
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.
Massachusetts lending rules that apply in Braintree Town
The table lists the Massachusetts rules that apply to a loan made in Braintree Town, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan rate order | Maximum 23% per annum plus a $20 administrative fee (209 CMR 26.00/26.01) Source says: "Regulation 209 CMR 26.00 et seq. limits the annual interest rate that can be charged on small loans to 23%" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 20% per annum criminal-usury threshold (M.G.L. c. 271, § 49); statutory exceptions apply Source says: "interest and expenses the aggregate of which exceeds an amount greater than twenty per centum per annum upon the sum loaned" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Restricted: DOB states payday lending is not prohibited, but a 'payday loan' is illegal due to the high APR Source says: "Payday lending is not prohibited in Massachusetts. Yet what is referred to as a 'payday loan' is illegal" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small-loan license required for loans of $6,000 or less when interest and expenses exceed 12% per year (M.G.L. c. 140, § 96) Source says: "No person shall directly or indirectly engage in the business of making loans of six thousand dollars or less ... without first obtaining ... a license" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Division of Banks (Office of the Commissioner of Banks) Source says: "The Division of Banks (DOB) cautions you when applying for a payday loan" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Braintree Town
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Braintree Town:
- 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 Massachusetts using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.