Rio Dell at a glance
- Population: 3,308 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 443rd-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 3,377 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.0% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 443rd in population of 482 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 8% of California's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.4956 / -124.1152, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Fortuna, CA (6 mi); Eureka, CA (21 mi); Arcata, CA (25 mi); Fort Bragg, CA (75 mi); Willits, CA (86 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Ferndale, CA (10 mi); Blue Lake, CA (27 mi); Trinidad, CA (39 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Rio Dell
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
California lending rules that apply in Rio Dell
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Rio Dell: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Rio Dell
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Rio Dell:
- 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.