Cattaraugus at a glance
- Population: about 965 residents, ranking 425th of 595 Census places in New York (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 991 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.6% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 425th out of 595 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 29% of places in New York rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 42.3298, -78.8675 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Little Valley, NY (7 mi); Gowanda, NY (10 mi); Salamanca, NY (13 mi); Springville, NY (16 mi); North Collins, NY (19 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller communities: South Dayton, NY (10 mi); Ellicottville, NY (11 mi); Sinclairville, NY (20 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Cattaraugus
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total 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.
New York lending rules that apply in Cattaraugus
The table lists the New York rules that apply to a loan made in Cattaraugus, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Cattaraugus
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Cattaraugus:
- 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 York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.