Elmwood Park at a glance
- Population: about 23,369, 98th by size in Illinois of 1,294 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 24,522 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 4.7% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 98th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 92% of places in Illinois rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.9225, -87.8163 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Melrose Park, IL (3 mi); Oak Park, IL (3 mi); Berwyn, IL (6 mi); Cicero, IL (6 mi); Park Ridge, IL (6 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: River Grove, IL (1 mi); River Forest, IL (2 mi); Norridge, IL (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Elmwood 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, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Elmwood Park
The table carries the Illinois rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Elmwood Park.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Elmwood Park
A few practical steps will make the process in Elmwood Park 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.