Chowchilla at a glance
- Population: about 19,328, 303rd by size in California of 482 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 19,052 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 1.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 303rd largest of 482 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 37% of California's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 37.1161, -120.2420 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Madera, CA (13 mi); Merced, CA (18 mi); Atwater, CA (26 mi); Los Banos, CA (33 mi); Fresno, CA (34 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Firebaugh, CA (22 mi); Dos Palos, CA (23 mi); Mendota, CA (26 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Chowchilla
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.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
California lending rules that apply in Chowchilla
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Chowchilla: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Chowchilla
Run through this list before signing anything in Chowchilla:
- 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.