Baldwin at a glance
- Population: 1,366 people, the 320th-largest place among Florida's 411 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 1,396 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 2.1% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Florida places: 320th-largest of 411 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 22% of the places in Florida (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 30.3078, -81.9737 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Macclenny, FL (9 mi); Orange Park, FL (19 mi); Jacksonville, FL (19 mi); Callahan, FL (20 mi); Starke, FL (26 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places close by: Glen St. Mary, FL (11 mi); Lawtey, FL (19 mi); Raiford, FL (23 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Baldwin
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 number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Florida lending rules that apply in Baldwin
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Florida, and therefore in Baldwin.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 18% per annum simple interest (loans/advances of $500,000 or less; loans above $500,000 are exempt from this cap) Source says: "it shall be usury and unlawful ... to ... charge ... a rate of interest greater than the equivalent of 18 percent per annum simple interest". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (deferred presentment providers; money services business license under chapter 560) Source says: "Businesses intending to engage in deferred presentment transactions must be licensed as a money services business under chapter 560, Florida Statutes". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance loan license required (chapter 516) Source says: "A person must not engage in the business of making consumer finance loans ... unless ... the person first obtains a license from the office". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Source says: "The Office of Financial Regulation is a state-government agency created by the Governor and Cabinet to provide regulatory oversight for Florida's financial services industry". | Florida Office of Financial Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Deferred presentment fee cap | 10% of the amount provided (transactions not repayable in installments) Source says: "A deferred presentment provider or its affiliate may not charge fees that exceed 10 percent of the currency or payment instrument provided". | Florida Legislature (The Florida Senate, Online Sunshine) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Baldwin
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Baldwin:
- 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 Florida using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.