Hartford at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 119,669 residents, ranking 4th of 29 places in Connecticut (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 121,019 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.1% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Connecticut places: 4th of the state's 29 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 86% of places in Connecticut rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 41.7659, -72.6816 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Springfield, MA (25 mi); New Haven, CT (34 mi); Bridgeport, CT (48 mi); Worcester, MA (57 mi); Providence, RI (65 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: New Britain, CT (8 mi); Bristol, CT (15 mi); Middletown, CT (15 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Hartford
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Connecticut lending rules that apply in Hartford
The table carries the Connecticut rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Hartford.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan APR caps (§ 36a-558(d)) | Loans under $5,000: lesser of 36% APR or the Military Lending Act rate cap; loans $5,000–$50,000: 25% APR Source says: "an APR that exceeds the lesser of thirty-six per cent"; "an APR that exceeds twenty-five per cent". | Connecticut General Assembly — C.G.S. § 36a-558(d) (2026 Supplement) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum (consumer loans; statutory exceptions apply, e.g., banks, credit unions, small loan licensees) Source says: "charge, demand, accept or make any agreement to receive therefor interest at a rate greater than twelve per cent per annum". | Connecticut General Assembly — C.G.S. § 37-4 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday loans (small loans at more than 12% APR) are void and unenforceable unless made by exempt persons; licensed small loan companies may charge up to 36% APR Source says: "Connecticut Banking Law considers such loans as void and unenforceable"; "Small Loan licensees can charge up to 36% annual percentage rate (APR)". | Connecticut Department of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required for loans of $50,000 or less with an APR greater than 12% (Small Loan Lending and Related Activities Act, C.G.S. §§ 36a-555 to 36a-573) Source says: "Without having first obtained a small loan license from the commissioner pursuant to section 36a-565, no person shall". | Connecticut General Assembly — C.G.S. § 36a-556 (2026 Supplement) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Connecticut Department of Banking Source says: "The Department of Banking considers payday loan companies as unlicensed small loan lenders". | Connecticut Department of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Hartford
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Hartford:
- 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 Connecticut using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.