Guadalupe at a glance
- Population: roughly 8,622 people; 383rd of 482 places in California (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 8,060 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 7.0% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: the 383rd-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 21% of the Census places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 34.9649, -120.5731 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Santa Maria, CA (8 mi); Arroyo Grande, CA (11 mi); Grover Beach, CA (11 mi); San Luis Obispo, CA (22 mi); Lompoc, CA (22 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Pismo Beach, CA (14 mi); Buellton, CA (32 mi); Solvang, CA (36 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Guadalupe
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.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in Guadalupe
The California rate caps and licensing rules that reach Guadalupe are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Guadalupe
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Guadalupe:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.