Dunsmuir at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,642 people; 460th of 482 places in California (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,706 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 3.8% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 460th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 5% of the places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.2315 latitude, -122.2709 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Mount Shasta, CA (7 mi); Weed, CA (14 mi); Shasta Lake, CA (39 mi); Yreka, CA (39 mi); Redding, CA (46 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller places: Etna, CA (36 mi); Montague, CA (37 mi); Fort Jones, CA (39 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Dunsmuir
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
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 Dunsmuir
The table lists the California rules that apply to a loan made in Dunsmuir, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Dunsmuir
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Dunsmuir:
- 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.