Dunellen at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 8,176, placing it 142nd among New Jersey's 323 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 7,640 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 7.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 142nd in population of 323 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 56% of places in New Jersey rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.5903, longitude -74.4657 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Middlesex, NJ (2 mi); North Plainfield, NJ (3 mi); South Plainfield, NJ (3 mi); Plainfield, NJ (3 mi); Bound Brook, NJ (4 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Watchung, NJ (4 mi); South Bound Brook, NJ (4 mi); Fanwood, NJ (5 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Dunellen
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
Lenders weigh your credit history, income and debts when they set the rate, and the term you choose then determines how that rate compounds into total cost.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Dunellen
The table carries the New Jersey rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Dunellen.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Dunellen
A few practical steps will make the process in Dunellen less costly:
- 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.