West Haven at a glance
- Population: 54,790 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 11th-largest of 29 places in Connecticut.
- 2020 Census base: 55,580 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 1.4% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Connecticut places: the 11th-largest of 29 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 62% of places in Connecticut rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 41.2721, -72.9675 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): New Haven, CT (3 mi); Bridgeport, CT (13 mi); Waterbury, CT (20 mi); Meriden, CT (20 mi); Norwalk, CT (27 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Woodmont, CT (4 mi); Derby, CT (7 mi); Ansonia, CT (7 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in West Haven
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Connecticut lending rules that apply in West Haven
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Connecticut, and therefore in West Haven.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum (consumer loans; statutory exceptions apply, e.g., banks, credit unions, small loan licensees) Source says: "charge, demand, accept or make any agreement to receive therefor interest at a rate greater than twelve per cent per annum". | Connecticut General Assembly — C.G.S. § 37-4 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday loans (small loans at more than 12% APR) are void and unenforceable unless made by exempt persons; licensed small loan companies may charge up to 36% APR Source says: "Connecticut Banking Law considers such loans as void and unenforceable"; "Small Loan licensees can charge up to 36% annual percentage rate (APR)". | Connecticut Department of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan license required for loans of $50,000 or less with an APR greater than 12% (Small Loan Lending and Related Activities Act, C.G.S. §§ 36a-555 to 36a-573) Source says: "Without having first obtained a small loan license from the commissioner pursuant to section 36a-565, no person shall". | Connecticut General Assembly — C.G.S. § 36a-556 (2026 Supplement) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Connecticut Department of Banking Source says: "The Department of Banking considers payday loan companies as unlicensed small loan lenders". | Connecticut Department of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan APR caps (§ 36a-558(d)) | Loans under $5,000: lesser of 36% APR or the Military Lending Act rate cap; loans $5,000–$50,000: 25% APR Source says: "an APR that exceeds the lesser of thirty-six per cent"; "an APR that exceeds twenty-five per cent". | Connecticut General Assembly — C.G.S. § 36a-558(d) (2026 Supplement) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in West Haven
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in West Haven:
- 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 Connecticut using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.