Gaithersburg at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 69,563 residents, ranking 3rd of 157 places in Maryland (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 69,640 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 0.1% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Maryland places: the 3rd-largest of 157 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 98% of the places in Maryland (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 39.1486, -77.1951.
- Nearest larger cities: Washington, DC (19 mi); Frederick, MD (23 mi); Alexandria, VA (24 mi); Baltimore, MD (33 mi); Wilmington, DE (98 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Washington Grove, MD (1 mi); Rockville, MD (5 mi); Laytonsville, MD (5 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Gaithersburg
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Maryland lending rules that apply in Gaithersburg
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OFR consumer-loan interest-rate limits | 2.75%/month (33%/yr) on the first $1,000 of a loan ≤$2,000; 2%/month (24%/yr) thereafter and on loans over $2,000 Source says: "Maximum interest rate allowed by law is 2.75% per month or an annual interest rate of 33%" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 24% per year effective simple interest for qualifying loans (Md. Code Com. Law § 12-103(c)); otherwise 8% (written agreement) or 18% Source says: "a lender may charge an effective rate of simple interest not in excess of 24 percent per year on the unpaid principal balance" | Maryland General Assembly as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Regulated as consumer loans: licensing and statutory interest-rate limits apply to payday-style loans (OFR) Source says: "they are prohibited from charging or receiving an interest rate that is greater than authorized by the laws of this State" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Lender license required to make loans under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law (Com. Law § 12-301 et seq.) Source says: "A Consumer Lender is a business that makes any loan or advance of money or credit under the Maryland Consumer Loan Law" | Maryland Department of Labor, Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Office of Financial Regulation; Commissioner of Financial Regulation (Maryland Department of Labor) Source says: "is Maryland's consumer financial protection agency and financial services regulator" | Maryland Department of Labor as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gaithersburg
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Gaithersburg:
- 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 Maryland using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.