Vaughn at a glance
- Population: 267 residents, the 83rd-largest of 105 places in New Mexico (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 281 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 5.0% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Mexico places: 83rd of 105 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 21% of places in New Mexico rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 34.6072, longitude -105.2126 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Santa Rosa, NM (38 mi); Estancia, NM (48 mi); Moriarty, NM (55 mi); Fort Sumner, NM (57 mi); Mountainair, NM (59 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Encino, NM (14 mi); Corona, NM (33 mi); Willard, NM (47 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Vaughn
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
New Mexico lending rules that apply in Vaughn
Each row below is a New Mexico rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | New Mexico Financial Institutions Division (FID), Regulation and Licensing Department Source says: "We regulate a variety of financial institutions operating in New Mexico including:" | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small loan company licensing/regulation | Small loan companies are a regulated institution category of the Financial Institutions Division Source says: "Small Loan Companies" | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% annually absent a written contract fixing a different rate (NMSA 1978, 56-8-3) Source says: "The rate of interest, in the absence of a written contract fixing a different rate, shall be not more than fifteen percent annually" | New Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource, official NMSA) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday-style small loans capped at 36% APR (HB 132 of 2022; effective January 1, 2023; cap rises only if prime rate exceeds 10% for three consecutive months) Source says: "a permitted annual percentage rate greater than thirty-six percent, calculated pursuant to 12 CFR Part 1026" | New Mexico Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Lenders making Bank Installment Loan Act loans (other than federally insured depositories) must be licensed under the Small Loan Act (2022 requirement) Source says: "a new requirement for lenders making loans under the BILA (other than a federally insured depository institution) to be licensed under the SLA" | New Mexico Legislature (Legislative Finance Committee fiscal impact report) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Vaughn
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Vaughn:
- 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 Mexico using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.