Riverdale at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 10,159 residents, ranking 223rd of 1,294 places in Illinois (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 10,665 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 4.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: 223rd largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 83% of Illinois's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.6427, -87.6356 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Dolton, IL (2 mi); Blue Island, IL (3 mi); Harvey, IL (3 mi); South Holland, IL (4 mi); Markham, IL (4 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Dixmoor, IL (2 mi); Calumet Park, IL (2 mi); Phoenix, IL (2 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Riverdale
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.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Riverdale
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Riverdale
Run through this list before signing anything in Riverdale:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.