Burien at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 50,730 residents, ranking 25th of 281 places in Washington (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 52,065 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.6% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 25th in population of 281 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 91% of places in Washington are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.4756, -122.3447 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Renton, WA (7 mi); Kent, WA (9 mi); Seattle, WA (10 mi); Federal Way, WA (11 mi); Bellevue, WA (12 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Normandy Park, WA (3 mi); SeaTac, WA (3 mi); Tukwila, WA (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Burien
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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.
Washington lending rules that apply in Burien
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Burien: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Burien
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Burien:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.