Chester at a glance
- Population: 1,678 people, the 275th-largest place among New Jersey's 323 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,673 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: up roughly 0.3% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 275th out of 323 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 15% of the Census places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.7906 / -74.6901, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Mendham, NJ (5 mi); Peapack and Gladstone, NJ (6 mi); Bernardsville, NJ (7 mi); Netcong, NJ (8 mi); Hackettstown, NJ (8 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places nearby: Far Hills, NJ (8 mi); Califon, NJ (9 mi); Victory Gardens, NJ (10 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Chester
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Chester
The table lists the New Jersey rules that apply to a loan made in Chester, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI); Office of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders Source says: "The Office of Consumer Finance regulates 16 types of businesses that provide a variety of consumer financial services." | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury limits | 30% for non-corporate borrowers; 50% for corporations Source says: "the criminal usury limitation is 50 percent for corporations and 30 percent for non-corporate borrowers" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Civil usury: rates above 6% (agreement not in writing) or above 16% (written contract specifying the rate) Source says: "the civil usury rate is any interest rate greater than 6 percent for an agreement that is not in writing" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Unlicensed payday lending violates New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates; payday lenders must be licensed Source says: "out-of-state or foreign entities that have not obtained the required New Jersey license and whose payment terms violate New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required for loans of $50,000 or less for personal, family, or household purposes (N.J.S.A. 17:11C-1 et seq.) Source says: "A consumer lender license is required for the making of a loan that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Chester
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Chester:
- 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 New Jersey using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.