West Long Branch at a glance
- Population: roughly 8,555 people; 133rd of 323 places in New Jersey (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 8,591 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.4% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 133rd by size among 323 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 59% of the Census places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.2879 / -74.0200, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Long Branch, NJ (2 mi); Eatontown, NJ (2 mi); Tinton Falls, NJ (4 mi); Asbury Park, NJ (5 mi); Red Bank, NJ (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Smaller places close by: Oceanport, NJ (2 mi); Deal, NJ (3 mi); Shrewsbury, NJ (3 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in West Long Branch
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.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in West Long Branch
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Jersey, and therefore in West Long Branch.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in West Long Branch
Run through this list before signing anything in West Long Branch:
- 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.