Framingham at a glance
- Population: 71,875, the 14th-largest community in Massachusetts out of 54 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 72,377 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 0.7% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Massachusetts places: 14th out of 54 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 74% of Massachusetts places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 42.3079, -71.4362.
- Nearest larger cities: Newton, MA (12 mi); Cambridge, MA (17 mi); Somerville, MA (18 mi); Worcester, MA (19 mi); Boston, MA (21 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller communities: Marlborough, MA (6 mi); Waltham, MA (11 mi); Franklin Town, MA (15 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Framingham
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Massachusetts lending rules that apply in Framingham
The Massachusetts rate caps and licensing rules that reach Framingham are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Division of Banks (Office of the Commissioner of Banks) Source says: "The Division of Banks (DOB) cautions you when applying for a payday loan" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan rate order | Maximum 23% per annum plus a $20 administrative fee (209 CMR 26.00/26.01) Source says: "Regulation 209 CMR 26.00 et seq. limits the annual interest rate that can be charged on small loans to 23%" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 20% per annum criminal-usury threshold (M.G.L. c. 271, § 49); statutory exceptions apply Source says: "interest and expenses the aggregate of which exceeds an amount greater than twenty per centum per annum upon the sum loaned" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Restricted: DOB states payday lending is not prohibited, but a 'payday loan' is illegal due to the high APR Source says: "Payday lending is not prohibited in Massachusetts. Yet what is referred to as a 'payday loan' is illegal" | Massachusetts Division of Banks as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small-loan license required for loans of $6,000 or less when interest and expenses exceed 12% per year (M.G.L. c. 140, § 96) Source says: "No person shall directly or indirectly engage in the business of making loans of six thousand dollars or less ... without first obtaining ... a license" | Massachusetts General Court as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Framingham
Run through this list before signing anything in Framingham:
- 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 Massachusetts using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.