Highlands at a glance
- Population: 4,329 residents, the 210th-largest of 323 places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 4,623 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 6.4% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 210th by size among 323 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 35% of New Jersey's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.4042 latitude, -73.9882 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Atlantic Highlands, NJ (2 mi); Rumson, NJ (3 mi); Fair Haven, NJ (4 mi); Little Silver, NJ (5 mi); Red Bank, NJ (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places nearby: Sea Bright, NJ (3 mi); Monmouth Beach, NJ (5 mi); Shrewsbury, NJ (6 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Highlands
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.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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 Highlands
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Jersey, and therefore in Highlands.
| 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 Highlands
Run through this list before signing anything in Highlands:
- 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.