Harrison at a glance
- Population: roughly 20,520 people; 49th of 323 places in New Jersey (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 19,458 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 5.5% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 49th in population of 323 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 85% of the Census places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.7430, -74.1529 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Newark, NJ (2 mi); Kearny, NJ (2 mi); East Orange, NJ (3 mi); Jersey City, NJ (5 mi); Secaucus, NJ (5 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: East Newark, NJ (1 mi); North Arlington, NJ (3 mi); Glen Ridge, NJ (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Harrison
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
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.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Harrison
The table carries the New Jersey rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Harrison.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Harrison
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Harrison:
- 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.