Gearhart at a glance
- Population: 1,870, the 126th-largest community in Oregon out of 240 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,802 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 3.8% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Oregon places: 126th largest of 240 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 48% of places in Oregon rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.0317 latitude, -123.9185 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Seaside, OR (3 mi); Warrenton, OR (10 mi); Astoria, OR (12 mi); Vernonia, OR (37 mi); Tillamook, OR (40 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Cannon Beach, OR (10 mi); Ilwaco, WA (20 mi); Nehalem, OR (22 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Gearhart
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Oregon lending rules that apply in Gearhart
The Oregon rate caps and licensing rules that reach Gearhart are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% per annum default legal rate where the parties have not agreed to a rate. Source says: "The rate of interest for the following transactions, if the parties have not otherwise agreed to a rate of interest, is nine percent per annum" (ORS 82.010(1)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed payday/title lenders; term 31-60 days; one-time 10% origination fee capped at $30; interest limited to 36%/yr; max APR 153.77%. Source says: "Interest rates are limited to 36 percent annually. The maximum APR (interest and fees) is 153.77 percent"; "A one-time 10 percent loan origination fee, up to a maximum of $30 for a new loan"; "The payday or title loan must be for at least 31 days and not longer than 60 days." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required to make consumer finance loans of $50,000 or less; license issued by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. Source says: "a consumer finance loan of $50,000 or less... unless the person first obtains a license under this chapter" (ORS 725.045). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (Department of Consumer and Business Services) Source says: "Protecting Oregonians' access to fair products and services through education, regulation, and consumer assistance." | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Unlicensed lending consequence (state-specific rule) | Unlicensed consumer finance loans are void and uncollectible (principal, interest, fees). Source says: "the consumer finance loan is void... may not... collect, receive or retain principal, interest, a fee or a charge related to... the consumer finance loan" (ORS 725.045(1)(b)). | Oregon Legislative Assembly (Oregon Revised Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gearhart
Run through this list before signing anything in Gearhart:
- 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 Oregon using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.