Benton City at a glance
- Population: 3,733, the 133rd-largest community in Washington out of 281 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,483 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 7.2% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 133rd-largest of 281 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 53% of Washington places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.2637, -119.4790 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities: West Richland, WA (6 mi); Richland, WA (9 mi); Prosser, WA (14 mi); Kennewick, WA (15 mi); Pasco, WA (17 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Mabton, WA (25 mi); Irrigon, OR (25 mi); Mesa, WA (31 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Benton City
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 APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
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 Benton City
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Washington, and therefore in Benton City.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Benton City
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Benton City:
- 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.