Port Townsend at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 10,502, placing it 89th among Washington's 281 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 10,147 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a gain of roughly 3.5% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: the 89th-largest of 281 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 68% of places in Washington are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 48.1218, -122.7879.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Oak Harbor, WA (14 mi); Anacortes, WA (26 mi); Mukilteo, WA (27 mi); Poulsbo, WA (27 mi); Edmonds, WA (29 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller towns: Coupeville, WA (8 mi); Sequim, WA (14 mi); Langley, WA (19 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Port Townsend
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Washington lending rules that apply in Port Townsend
The Washington rate caps and licensing rules that reach Port Townsend are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Port Townsend
A few practical steps will make the process in Port Townsend 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.