Freehold at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 12,430 residents, ranking 83rd of 323 places in New Jersey (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 12,536 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.8% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 83rd of the state's 323 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 74% of places in New Jersey rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.2602 / -74.2759, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Tinton Falls, NJ (9 mi); Eatontown, NJ (12 mi); Red Bank, NJ (13 mi); South River, NJ (14 mi); Asbury Park, NJ (14 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: Englishtown, NJ (5 mi); Farmingdale, NJ (7 mi); Roosevelt, NJ (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Freehold
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Freehold
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Freehold: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI); Office of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders Source says: "The Office of Consumer Finance regulates 16 types of businesses that provide a variety of consumer financial services." | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury limits | 30% for non-corporate borrowers; 50% for corporations Source says: "the criminal usury limitation is 50 percent for corporations and 30 percent for non-corporate borrowers" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Civil usury: rates above 6% (agreement not in writing) or above 16% (written contract specifying the rate) Source says: "the civil usury rate is any interest rate greater than 6 percent for an agreement that is not in writing" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Unlicensed payday lending violates New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates; payday lenders must be licensed Source says: "out-of-state or foreign entities that have not obtained the required New Jersey license and whose payment terms violate New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required for loans of $50,000 or less for personal, family, or household purposes (N.J.S.A. 17:11C-1 et seq.) Source says: "A consumer lender license is required for the making of a loan that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Freehold
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Freehold:
- 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 New Jersey using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.