Caldwell at a glance
- Population: 8,834 people, the 128th-largest place among New Jersey's 323 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 9,015 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.0% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: the 128th-largest of 323 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 60% of the Census places in New Jersey (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.8392, longitude -74.2770 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Totowa, NJ (5 mi); Woodland Park, NJ (6 mi); Lincoln Park, NJ (6 mi); East Orange, NJ (6 mi); Clifton, NJ (6 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: Essex Fells, NJ (1 mi); North Caldwell, NJ (2 mi); Roseland, NJ (2 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Caldwell
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Caldwell
Each row below is a New Jersey rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Caldwell
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Caldwell:
- 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.