Jackson at a glance
- Population: 5,132 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 425th-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 5,010 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 2.4% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 425th by size among 482 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 12% of places in California are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 38.3485, longitude -120.7728 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Ione, CA (10 mi); Placerville, CA (26 mi); Galt, CA (29 mi); Rancho Cordova, CA (30 mi); Folsom, CA (30 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Sutter Creek, CA (3 mi); Amador City, CA (6 mi); Plymouth, CA (10 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Jackson
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
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.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in Jackson
The table lists the California rules that apply to a loan made in Jackson, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Jackson
Before you share your details with a lender in Jackson:
- 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.