Pacifica at a glance
- Population: 36,426 people, the 216th-largest place among California's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 38,636 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 5.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 216th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 55% of the Census places in California (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.6066, -122.4772 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: San Bruno, CA (3 mi); South San Francisco, CA (6 mi); Daly City, CA (7 mi); San Mateo, CA (10 mi); Alameda, CA (15 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places close by: Millbrae, CA (4 mi); Colma, CA (5 mi); Burlingame, CA (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Pacifica
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in Pacifica
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Pacifica
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Pacifica:
- 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.