Fairfax at a glance
- Population: roughly 7,417 people; 399th of 482 places in California (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 7,598 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.4% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 399th of 482 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 17% of places in California rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 37.9885 / -122.5952, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: San Anselmo, CA (1 mi); San Rafael, CA (5 mi); Larkspur, CA (5 mi); Corte Madera, CA (6 mi); Mill Valley, CA (6 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller towns nearby: Ross, CA (3 mi); Belvedere, CA (10 mi); Sausalito, CA (11 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Fairfax
With an installment loan the payment is fixed for the life of the loan, so the schedule is predictable from the first month to the last.
Compare offers on APR rather than the headline rate — the APR includes most fees, and you can model the total with our personal loan calculator.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
California lending rules that apply in Fairfax
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in California, and therefore in Fairfax.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 36% rate cap on mid-size consumer loans (AB 539) | Consumer loans of $2,500 to under $10,000: cap of 36% per annum simple interest plus the Federal Funds Rate Source says: "charges at a rate not exceeding an annual simple interest rate of 36 percent per annum plus the Federal Funds Rate". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22304.5 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 7% per annum default; written contracts may set up to 10% per annum for consumer-purpose loans Source says: "shall be 7 percent per annum"; "for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, at a rate not exceeding 10 percent per annum". | California Legislature — California Constitution, Article XV, § 1 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under the California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law; max $300 face amount; fee ≤15%; term up to 31 days Source says: "The face amount of the check shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300)"; "A fee for a deferred deposit transaction shall not exceed 15 percent of the face amount of the check" (Financial Code § 23036). | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23035 (and § 23036) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Finance lender/broker license required from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation (California Financing Law) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a finance lender or broker without obtaining a license from the commissioner". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 22100 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) Source says: "“Department” means the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation". | California Legislature — Financial Code § 23001 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Fairfax
A few practical steps will make the process in Fairfax 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 California using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.