Lawndale at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 30,155 residents, ranking 241st of 482 places in California (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 31,826 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 5.3% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 241st of the state's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 50% of the Census places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 33.8884, longitude -118.3531 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Hawthorne, CA (2 mi); Gardena, CA (3 mi); Redondo Beach, CA (4 mi); Manhattan Beach, CA (4 mi); Torrance, CA (4 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller towns nearby: Hermosa Beach, CA (3 mi); El Segundo, CA (4 mi); Lomita, CA (7 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Lawndale
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
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 Lawndale
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Lawndale: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Lawndale
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Lawndale:
- 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.