Calistoga at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 5,058, placing it 426th among California's 482 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 5,228 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 3.3% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 426th by size among 482 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 12% of places in California are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 38.5814 / -122.5827, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: St. Helena, CA (8 mi); Santa Rosa, CA (12 mi); Windsor, CA (13 mi); Healdsburg, CA (16 mi); Rohnert Park, CA (17 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Yountville, CA (18 mi); Ross, CA (43 mi); Belvedere, CA (49 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Calistoga
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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 longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
California lending rules that apply in Calistoga
The table carries the California rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Calistoga.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Calistoga
Before you share your details with a lender in Calistoga:
- 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.