Fitchburg at a glance
- Population: 41,579 — 32nd in Massachusetts, which has 54 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 41,947 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.9% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Massachusetts places: 32nd largest of 54 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 41% of Massachusetts's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 42.6020, -71.8159 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Leominster, MA (6 mi); Nashua, NH (19 mi); Worcester, MA (23 mi); Lowell, MA (25 mi); Framingham, MA (28 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Gardner, MA (9 mi); Marlborough, MA (22 mi); Keene, NH (35 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Fitchburg
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Massachusetts lending rules that apply in Fitchburg
The table lists the Massachusetts rules that apply to a loan made in Fitchburg, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan rate order | Maximum 23% per annum plus a $20 administrative fee (209 CMR 26.00/26.01) Source says: "Regulation 209 CMR 26.00 et seq. limits the annual interest rate that can be charged on small loans to 23%" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 20% per annum criminal-usury threshold (M.G.L. c. 271, § 49); statutory exceptions apply Source says: "interest and expenses the aggregate of which exceeds an amount greater than twenty per centum per annum upon the sum loaned" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Restricted: DOB states payday lending is not prohibited, but a 'payday loan' is illegal due to the high APR Source says: "Payday lending is not prohibited in Massachusetts. Yet what is referred to as a 'payday loan' is illegal" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small-loan license required for loans of $6,000 or less when interest and expenses exceed 12% per year (M.G.L. c. 140, § 96) Source says: "No person shall directly or indirectly engage in the business of making loans of six thousand dollars or less ... without first obtaining ... a license" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Division of Banks (Office of the Commissioner of Banks) Source says: "The Division of Banks (DOB) cautions you when applying for a payday loan" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fitchburg
Before you commit to a personal loan in Fitchburg, 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 Massachusetts using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.