Cranston at a glance
- Population: 82,635 people, the 3rd-largest place among Rhode Island's 8 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 82,930 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.4% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Rhode Island places: the 3rd-largest of 8 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 62% of Rhode Island places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.7697 / -71.4850, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Providence, RI (5 mi); Warwick, RI (6 mi); Fall River, MA (20 mi); New Bedford, MA (29 mi); Brockton, MA (32 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: East Providence, RI (7 mi); Pawtucket, RI (9 mi); Central Falls, RI (10 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Cranston
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Rhode Island lending rules that apply in Cranston
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for making/funding loans or acting as a small loan lender; small loans (under $5,000, non-real-estate) regulated under R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 19-14.2. Source says: "Making or funding loans or acting as a lender or small loan lender... without first obtaining a license" (R.I. Gen. Laws 19-14-2(a)). | Rhode Island General Assembly (R.I. General Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR) - Division of Banking Source says: "any rule or regulation promulgated by the department of business regulation pertaining to check cashers" (R.I. Gen. Laws 19-14.4-3); DBR's own site returned HTTP 403 to automated requests. | Rhode Island General Assembly (R.I. General Laws 19-14.4-3) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Commercial loan rate exemption (state-specific rule) | No interest-rate limit on commercial loans exceeding $1,000,000 not secured by the borrower's principal residence. Source says: "there is no limitation on the rate of interest that may be legally charged" and "where the amount of money loaned exceeds the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000)" (R.I. Gen. Laws 6-26-2(e)). | Rhode Island General Assembly (R.I. General Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Loans may not exceed the greater of 21% per annum or the alternate rate (prime + 9 points); no cap for commercial loans over $1,000,000. Source says: "charge, or take interest on a loan... at a rate that shall exceed the greater of twenty-one percent (21%) per annum or the alternate rate" (R.I. Gen. Laws 6-26-2(a)). | Rhode Island General Assembly (R.I. General Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed check cashers: deferred deposits max $500, minimum 13-day term, fee limited to 10% of funds advanced; fee provision sunsets January 1, 2027. Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500)" (19-14.4-5.1); "Charge deferred deposit transaction fees in excess of ten percent (10%) of the amount of funds advanced" (19-14.4-4(4)). | Rhode Island General Assembly (R.I. General Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cranston
Before you commit to a personal loan in Cranston, work through these steps:
- 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 Rhode Island using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.