Darien at a glance
- Population: 21,698 people, the 110th-largest place among Illinois's 1,294 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 22,049 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.6% below the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Illinois places: the 110th-largest of 1,294 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: about 91% of places in Illinois are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 41.7457, -87.9815 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Woodridge, IL (3 mi); Westmont, IL (3 mi); Downers Grove, IL (4 mi); Lisle, IL (6 mi); Bolingbrook, IL (8 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Willowbrook, IL (3 mi); Burr Ridge, IL (3 mi); Clarendon Hills, IL (4 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Darien
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Illinois lending rules that apply in Darien
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Darien: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license; capped at 36% annual percentage rate (payday loans) Source says: "shall not contract for or receive a charge exceeding a 36% annual percentage rate ... for a payday loan". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Installment Loan Act license required from the Director of Financial Institutions (loans above 9% APR) Source says: "No person ... shall engage in the business of making loans of money ... except ... after first obtaining a license from the Director of Financial Institutions". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Financial Institutions Source says: "DFI licenses, charters, and examines a wide variety of financial products and services including: Consumer and Sales Finance and Collection Agencies". | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment lender net-worth requirement | $30,000 minimum positive net worth (plus $25,000 surety bond) Source says: "every applicant shall prove ... that the applicant has and will maintain a positive net worth of a minimum of $30,000". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 9% annual percentage rate (general written-contract interest cap) Source says: "it shall be lawful for the parties to stipulate or agree that an annual percentage rate of 9%, or any less sum". | Illinois General Assembly (Illinois Compiled Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Darien
Before you share your details with a lender in Darien:
- 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 Illinois using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.