Lewiston at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 38,404, placing it 2nd among Maine's 23 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 37,124 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 3.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Maine places: 2nd of 23 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 91% of the places in Maine (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 44.0895, longitude -70.1721 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Portland, ME (32 mi); Concord, NH (91 mi); Manchester, NH (99 mi); Haverhill, MA (101 mi); Lawrence, MA (108 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller places: Auburn, ME (4 mi); Bath, ME (19 mi); Gardiner, ME (20 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Lewiston
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 APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Maine lending rules that apply in Lewiston
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum finance charge for supervised lenders | $5 (loans ≤$75), $15 ($75–<$250), $25 (≥$250) — 9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(7) Source says: "the lender may contract for and receive a minimum charge of not more than ... Twenty-five dollars when the amount financed is $250 or more" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 30% per year on unpaid balances up to $2,000; 24% on $2,000–$4,000; 18% above $4,000 (9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(2)) Source says: "30% per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is $2,000 or less" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders are licensed as supervised lenders by the BCCP and subject to the 9-A § 2-401 finance-charge caps Source says: "Supervised Lenders Including Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Non-Mortgage Supervised Lenders, Payday Lenders, and Insurance Premium Finance Companies" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required when the finance charge exceeds 12 1/4% per year (or the loan is secured by real estate); applications via NMLS Source says: "Anyone who makes, takes assignment of, or services consumer loans in which the rate of the finance charge ... exceeds 12 1/4% per year" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) Source says: "The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection licenses and registers the following business entities" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lewiston
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Lewiston:
- 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 Maine using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.