Fairfield at a glance
- Population: 489 residents, the 129th-largest of 197 places in Idaho (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 445 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 9.9% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Idaho places: the 129th-largest of 197 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 35% of Idaho places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 43.3480, -114.8008.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Hailey, ID (28 mi); Bellevue, ID (29 mi); Gooding, ID (29 mi); Ketchum, ID (32 mi); Sun Valley, ID (33 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Bliss, ID (30 mi); Richfield, ID (38 mi); Dietrich, ID (40 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Fairfield
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Fairfield
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Idaho, and therefore in Fairfield.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fairfield
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Fairfield:
- 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.