Newburyport at a glance
- Population: 18,731 — 49th in Massachusetts, which has 54 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 18,291 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.4% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Massachusetts places: 49th-largest of 54 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 9% of Massachusetts's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.8121 / -70.8866, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Haverhill, MA (10 mi); Lawrence, MA (16 mi); Gloucester, MA (16 mi); Beverly, MA (18 mi); Portsmouth, NH (18 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller towns nearby: Winthrop Town, MA (30 mi); Somersworth, NH (30 mi); Franklin, NH (59 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Newburyport
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Massachusetts lending rules that apply in Newburyport
The table lists the Massachusetts rules that apply to a loan made in Newburyport, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Restricted: DOB states payday lending is not prohibited, but a 'payday loan' is illegal due to the high APR Source says: "Payday lending is not prohibited in Massachusetts. Yet what is referred to as a 'payday loan' is illegal" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small-loan license required for loans of $6,000 or less when interest and expenses exceed 12% per year (M.G.L. c. 140, § 96) Source says: "No person shall directly or indirectly engage in the business of making loans of six thousand dollars or less ... without first obtaining ... a license" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Division of Banks (Office of the Commissioner of Banks) Source says: "The Division of Banks (DOB) cautions you when applying for a payday loan" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan rate order | Maximum 23% per annum plus a $20 administrative fee (209 CMR 26.00/26.01) Source says: "Regulation 209 CMR 26.00 et seq. limits the annual interest rate that can be charged on small loans to 23%" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 20% per annum criminal-usury threshold (M.G.L. c. 271, § 49); statutory exceptions apply Source says: "interest and expenses the aggregate of which exceeds an amount greater than twenty per centum per annum upon the sum loaned" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Newburyport
A few practical steps will make the process in Newburyport less costly:
- 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 Massachusetts using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.