Raritan at a glance
- Population: 8,422, the 137th-largest community in New Jersey out of 323 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 7,841 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 7.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 137th by size among 323 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 58% of New Jersey's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.5713, longitude -74.6460 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Somerville, NJ (2 mi); Manville, NJ (4 mi); Bound Brook, NJ (6 mi); Middlesex, NJ (8 mi); North Plainfield, NJ (11 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Millstone, NJ (6 mi); South Bound Brook, NJ (6 mi); Far Hills, NJ (8 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Raritan
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Raritan
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Raritan: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| 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 Raritan
Before you share your details with a lender in Raritan:
- 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.