Apple Valley at a glance
- Population: 75,036 people, the 117th-largest place among California's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 75,786 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.0% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 117th-largest of 482 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 76% of places in California rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 34.5334, -117.2104 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: Victorville, CA (8 mi); Hesperia, CA (11 mi); San Bernardino, CA (28 mi); Rialto, CA (30 mi); Fontana, CA (33 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller towns nearby: Adelanto, CA (13 mi); Barstow, CA (25 mi); Big Bear Lake, CA (27 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Apple Valley
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 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.
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.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in Apple Valley
Each row below is a California rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Apple Valley
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Apple Valley:
- 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.