Pasadena at a glance
- Population: 146,716 residents, the 22nd-largest of 1,224 places in Texas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 151,897 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 3.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 22nd by size among 1,224 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 98% of Texas's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 29.6550, -95.1511.
- Nearest larger cities: Houston, TX (17 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places nearby: Deer Park, TX (3 mi); South Houston, TX (5 mi); La Porte, TX (6 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Pasadena
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
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.
Texas lending rules that apply in Pasadena
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Pasadena
Before you share your details with a lender in Pasadena:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.