Cliffside Park at a glance
- Population: 25,570, the 37th-largest community in New Jersey out of 323 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 25,692 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 0.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: the 37th-largest of 323 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 89% of places in New Jersey rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.8220 latitude, -73.9879 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Fort Lee, NJ (2 mi); West New York, NJ (3 mi); Union City, NJ (4 mi); Englewood, NJ (5 mi); Hackensack, NJ (6 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Edgewater, NJ (1 mi); Fairview, NJ (1 mi); Ridgefield, NJ (2 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Cliffside Park
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the 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.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Cliffside Park
The New Jersey rate caps and licensing rules that reach Cliffside Park are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Cliffside Park
Before you share your details with a lender in Cliffside Park:
- 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.