Arlington at a glance
- Population: roughly 21,206 people; 52nd of 281 places in Washington (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 19,909 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 6.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 52nd of 281 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: larger than about 81% of the Census places in Washington (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 48.1704 latitude, -122.1446 longitude (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Marysville, WA (6 mi); Lake Stevens, WA (12 mi); Everett, WA (14 mi); Mount Vernon, WA (19 mi); Oak Harbor, WA (24 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Smaller places close by: Granite Falls, WA (10 mi); Stanwood, WA (10 mi); Langley, WA (15 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Arlington
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.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
The offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Washington lending rules that apply in Arlington
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Arlington
A few practical steps will make the process in Arlington less costly:
- 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.