Cheswick at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,612, placing it 481st among Pennsylvania's 1,013 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,672 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 3.6% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 481st-largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 53% of Pennsylvania's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.5430, -79.8010 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Springdale, PA (1 mi); Oakmont, PA (2 mi); Arnold, PA (3 mi); New Kensington, PA (3 mi); Verona, PA (3 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Blawnox, PA (5 mi); Chalfant, PA (9 mi); Wall, PA (10 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Cheswick
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Cheswick
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Pennsylvania, and therefore in Cheswick.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cheswick
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Cheswick:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.