Jamestown at a glance
- Population: about 27,965, 30th by size in New York of 595 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 28,700 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.6% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 30th by size among 595 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 95% of New York's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 42.0976, -79.2361 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Erie, PA (43 mi); Buffalo, NY (58 mi); North Tonawanda, NY (68 mi); Niagara Falls, NY (70 mi); Youngstown, OH (100 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Celoron, NY (2 mi); Falconer, NY (2 mi); Lakewood, NY (4 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Jamestown
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.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
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.
New York lending rules that apply in Jamestown
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New York, and therefore in Jamestown.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Jamestown
A few practical steps will make the process in Jamestown less costly:
- 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 York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.