El Mirage at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 35,850 residents, ranking 29th of 91 places in Arizona (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 35,800 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 0.1% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arizona places: the 29th-largest of 91 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 68% of places in Arizona rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 33.5902, longitude -112.3271 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Glendale, AZ (9 mi); Surprise, AZ (9 mi); Peoria, AZ (14 mi); Phoenix, AZ (14 mi); Avondale, AZ (19 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Youngtown, AZ (1 mi); Litchfield Park, AZ (6 mi); Tolleson, AZ (11 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in El Mirage
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Arizona lending rules that apply in El Mirage
The Arizona rate caps and licensing rules that reach El Mirage are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year default; any rate may be agreed in writing (other than medical debt) Source says: "interest shall be at the rate of ten percent a year, unless a different rate is contracted for in writing". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 44-1201 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday lending authorization expired June 30, 2010; DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders; consumer loans over 36% APR illegal since July 1, 2010 Source says: "The law allowing payday loans in Arizona expired on June 30, 2010. DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders." | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required from the deputy director (A.R.S. Title 6, Chapter 5); at least $25,000 in assets readily available per licensed office; license not transferable Source says: "shall not engage in the business of a consumer lender without first being licensed as a consumer lender". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-603 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Source says: "The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI)". | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer lender loan rate caps (§ 6-632) | Consumer loans: 36% per year on principal up to $3,000; for larger loans, 36% on the first $3,000 and 24% above $3,000 Source says: "a consumer loan rate of thirty-six per cent"; "a consumer loan rate of twenty-four per cent on that part of the principal amount greater than three thousand dollars". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-632 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in El Mirage
A few practical steps will make the process in El Mirage less costly:
- 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 Arizona using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.