Westfield at a glance
- Population: 30,559 residents, the 27th-largest of 323 places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 31,038 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.5% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 27th largest of 323 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 92% of places in New Jersey rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.6516 latitude, -74.3434 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Plainfield, NJ (5 mi); Linden, NJ (6 mi); Elizabeth, NJ (8 mi); Perth Amboy, NJ (10 mi); Newark, NJ (10 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places nearby: Garwood, NJ (1 mi); Mountainside, NJ (2 mi); Fanwood, NJ (2 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Westfield
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
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 Westfield
The table lists the New Jersey rules that apply to a loan made in Westfield, each with the regulator that published it.
| 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 Westfield
Before you share your details with a lender in Westfield:
- 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.