Ellsworth at a glance
- Population: 8,711 people, the 14th-largest place among Maine's 23 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 8,398 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population rose about 3.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Maine places: 14th largest of 23 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: larger than about 39% of the Census places in Maine (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 44.5829 / -68.4801, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Brewer, ME (19 mi); Bangor, ME (23 mi); Waterville, ME (58 mi); Augusta, ME (64 mi); Bath, ME (81 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Old Town, ME (29 mi); Belfast, ME (29 mi); Rockland, ME (45 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Ellsworth
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
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.
Most lenders offer pre-qualification with a soft credit pull, so you can see an estimated rate and amount without affecting your credit score.
Maine lending rules that apply in Ellsworth
The Maine rate caps and licensing rules that reach Ellsworth are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Supervised lender license required when the finance charge exceeds 12 1/4% per year (or the loan is secured by real estate); applications via NMLS Source says: "Anyone who makes, takes assignment of, or services consumer loans in which the rate of the finance charge ... exceeds 12 1/4% per year" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) Source says: "The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection licenses and registers the following business entities" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
| Minimum finance charge for supervised lenders | $5 (loans ≤$75), $15 ($75–<$250), $25 (≥$250) — 9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(7) Source says: "the lender may contract for and receive a minimum charge of not more than ... Twenty-five dollars when the amount financed is $250 or more" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 30% per year on unpaid balances up to $2,000; 24% on $2,000–$4,000; 18% above $4,000 (9-A M.R.S. § 2-401(2)) Source says: "30% per year on that part of the unpaid balances of the amount financed that is $2,000 or less" | Maine Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday lenders are licensed as supervised lenders by the BCCP and subject to the 9-A § 2-401 finance-charge caps Source says: "Supervised Lenders Including Mortgage Lenders and Servicers, Non-Mortgage Supervised Lenders, Payday Lenders, and Insurance Premium Finance Companies" | Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ellsworth
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Ellsworth:
- 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 Maine using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.