Middlesex at a glance
- Population: 14,461, the 71st-largest community in New Jersey out of 323 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 14,638 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.2% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 71st by size among 323 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 78% of the places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.5746 / -74.4983, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): South Plainfield, NJ (4 mi); North Plainfield, NJ (4 mi); Plainfield, NJ (5 mi); Highland Park, NJ (6 mi); New Brunswick, NJ (7 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Dunellen, NJ (2 mi); South Bound Brook, NJ (2 mi); Bound Brook, NJ (2 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Middlesex
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Middlesex
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Jersey, and therefore in Middlesex.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury limits | 30% for non-corporate borrowers; 50% for corporations Source says: "the criminal usury limitation is 50 percent for corporations and 30 percent for non-corporate borrowers" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Civil usury: rates above 6% (agreement not in writing) or above 16% (written contract specifying the rate) Source says: "the civil usury rate is any interest rate greater than 6 percent for an agreement that is not in writing" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Unlicensed payday lending violates New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates; payday lenders must be licensed Source says: "out-of-state or foreign entities that have not obtained the required New Jersey license and whose payment terms violate New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required for loans of $50,000 or less for personal, family, or household purposes (N.J.S.A. 17:11C-1 et seq.) Source says: "A consumer lender license is required for the making of a loan that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI); Office of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders Source says: "The Office of Consumer Finance regulates 16 types of businesses that provide a variety of consumer financial services." | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Middlesex
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Middlesex:
- 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 Jersey using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.