Livingston at a glance
- Population: 14,643 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 327th-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: 14,178 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 3.3% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 327th out of 482 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 32% of places in California rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 37.3873, -120.7249.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Atwater, CA (7 mi); Turlock, CA (11 mi); Merced, CA (15 mi); Ceres, CA (20 mi); Modesto, CA (23 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Hughson, CA (17 mi); Newman, CA (17 mi); Gustine, CA (18 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Livingston
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
California lending rules that apply in Livingston
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Livingston: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| 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 Livingston
Run through this list before signing anything in Livingston:
- 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.