Gig Harbor at a glance
- Population: 12,604 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 81st-largest of 281 places in Washington.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 12,036 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 4.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 81st of 281 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 71% of places in Washington rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 47.3384, -122.6008 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: University Place, WA (9 mi); Tacoma, WA (9 mi); Federal Way, WA (12 mi); Lakewood, WA (13 mi); Des Moines, WA (14 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller places: Ruston, WA (5 mi); Fircrest, WA (8 mi); Steilacoom, WA (12 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Gig Harbor
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Washington lending rules that apply in Gig Harbor
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Gig Harbor
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Gig Harbor:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.