Highland Park at a glance
- Population: 14,959, the 65th-largest community in New Jersey out of 323 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 15,077 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.8% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 65th of 323 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 80% of New Jersey's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.5008 / -74.4279, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: New Brunswick, NJ (1 mi); Metuchen, NJ (4 mi); South River, NJ (5 mi); South Plainfield, NJ (5 mi); Sayreville, NJ (6 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Milltown, NJ (4 mi); Middlesex, NJ (6 mi); South Bound Brook, NJ (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Highland Park
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
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.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Highland Park
The table lists the New Jersey rules that apply to a loan made in Highland Park, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Highland Park
Before you share your details with a lender in Highland Park:
- 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.