La Habra at a glance
- Population: 60,991 people, the 145th-largest place among California's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 63,118 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among California places: 145th in population of 482 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 70% of places in California rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.9279, -117.9516 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Fullerton, CA (3 mi); Whittier, CA (5 mi); Buena Park, CA (6 mi); Norwalk, CA (8 mi); West Covina, CA (9 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: La Habra Heights, CA (2 mi); La Mirada, CA (4 mi); Brea, CA (5 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in La Habra
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
California lending rules that apply in La Habra
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| 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 La Habra
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in La Habra:
- 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.