South River at a glance
- Population: about 15,931 residents, ranking 60th of 323 Census places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 16,122 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.2% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 60th of the state's 323 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 81% of places in New Jersey are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.4457 / -74.3785, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Sayreville, NJ (3 mi); New Brunswick, NJ (4 mi); Perth Amboy, NJ (8 mi); South Plainfield, NJ (9 mi); Plainfield, NJ (12 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Milltown, NJ (3 mi); Spotswood, NJ (4 mi); Highland Park, NJ (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in South River
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.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in South River
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving South River: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in South River
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in South River:
- 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.