Buckeye at a glance
- Population: 108,909 — 12th in Arizona, which has 91 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 91,539 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 19.0% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arizona places: 12th out of 91 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 87% of the Census places in Arizona (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 33.4316, -112.6416 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Surprise, AZ (20 mi); Goodyear, AZ (20 mi); Glendale, AZ (27 mi); Peoria, AZ (31 mi); Phoenix, AZ (33 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places nearby: Litchfield Park, AZ (17 mi); Avondale, AZ (20 mi); El Mirage, AZ (21 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Buckeye
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Arizona lending rules that apply in Buckeye
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Buckeye: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday lending authorization expired June 30, 2010; DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders; consumer loans over 36% APR illegal since July 1, 2010 Source says: "The law allowing payday loans in Arizona expired on June 30, 2010. DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders." | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required from the deputy director (A.R.S. Title 6, Chapter 5); at least $25,000 in assets readily available per licensed office; license not transferable Source says: "shall not engage in the business of a consumer lender without first being licensed as a consumer lender". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-603 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Source says: "The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI)". | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer lender loan rate caps (§ 6-632) | Consumer loans: 36% per year on principal up to $3,000; for larger loans, 36% on the first $3,000 and 24% above $3,000 Source says: "a consumer loan rate of thirty-six per cent"; "a consumer loan rate of twenty-four per cent on that part of the principal amount greater than three thousand dollars". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-632 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year default; any rate may be agreed in writing (other than medical debt) Source says: "interest shall be at the rate of ten percent a year, unless a different rate is contracted for in writing". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 44-1201 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Buckeye
Run through this list before signing anything in Buckeye:
- 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 Arizona using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.