San Joaquin at a glance
- Population: 3,679 — 440th in California, which has 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 3,751 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 1.9% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 440th in population of 482 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 9% of California's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.6056 latitude, -120.1898 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Kerman, CA (11 mi); Mendota, CA (15 mi); Firebaugh, CA (23 mi); Fresno, CA (25 mi); Madera, CA (26 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller places: San Juan Bautista, CA (76 mi); Del Rey Oaks, CA (91 mi); Sand City, CA (92 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in San Joaquin
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 every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
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 San Joaquin
Each row below is a California rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in San Joaquin
Before you share your details with a lender in San Joaquin:
- 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.