Imperial at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 21,591, placing it 291st among California's 482 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 20,348 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 6.1% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 291st of the state's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 40% of California's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 32.8388, -115.5720 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: El Centro, CA (4 mi); Brawley, CA (10 mi); Calexico, CA (12 mi); San Luis, AZ (55 mi); Yuma, AZ (65 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Holtville, CA (11 mi); Westmorland, CA (14 mi); Calipatria, CA (23 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Imperial
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
California lending rules that apply in Imperial
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in California, and therefore in Imperial.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Imperial
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Imperial:
- 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.