Wildwood at a glance
- Population: 5,123, the 191st-largest community in New Jersey out of 323 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 5,153 residents at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau, 2020 count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.6% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 191st in population of 323 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 41% of places in New Jersey rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 38.9875, longitude -74.8182 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Ocean City, NJ (23 mi); Somers Point, NJ (25 mi); Linwood, NJ (28 mi); Margate City, NJ (29 mi); Northfield, NJ (30 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: West Wildwood, NJ (1 mi); Wildwood Crest, NJ (2 mi); North Wildwood, NJ (2 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Wildwood
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Wildwood
Each row below is a New Jersey rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| 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 Wildwood
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Wildwood:
- 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.