Lewes at a glance
- Population: 3,604 residents, the 17th-largest of 57 places in Delaware (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 3,300 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 9.2% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Delaware places: 17th largest of 57 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 70% of Delaware's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 38.7786, -75.1437.
- Nearest larger cities: Milton, DE (9 mi); Georgetown, DE (15 mi); Millsboro, DE (16 mi); Milford, DE (18 mi); Wildwood, NJ (23 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller towns: Henlopen Acres, DE (5 mi); Rehoboth Beach, DE (5 mi); Dewey Beach, DE (7 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Lewes
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
Delaware lending rules that apply in Lewes
The table carries the Delaware rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in Lewes.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Title loans (5 Del. C. ch. 22, subch. V) | Title loans permitted: secured by motor vehicle title, original repayment period of 180 days or less; borrower has a right to rescind until the end of the next business day Source says: "“Title loan” means a loan made to one or more natural persons by a licensee and secured by the title to a motor vehicle". | Delaware General Assembly — 5 Del. C. § 2250 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate; no rate limit for loans over $100,000 (licensed lenders may set rates by agreement under 5 Del. C. § 2229) Source says: "interest at any rate agreed upon in writing not in excess of 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate"; "there shall be no limitation on the rate of interest which may be legally charged for the loan or use of money". | Delaware General Assembly — 6 Del. C. § 2301 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted as 'short-term consumer loans' (≤$1,000, stated term under 60 days); max 5 per borrower per 12 months; max 4 rollovers Source says: "a short-term consumer loan that would cause the borrower to have more than 5 short-term consumer loans from all licensees in any 12-month period"; "No licensee shall make more than 4 rollovers of an existing short-term consumer loan". | Delaware General Assembly — 5 Del. C. §§ 2227, 2235A as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the State Bank Commissioner; making more than 5 loans in any 12-month period is deemed 'transacting the business of lending' Source says: "Every person desiring to transact the business of lending money in this State shall be required to obtain a license under this chapter". | Delaware General Assembly — 5 Del. C. § 2202 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC) Source says: "The Office of the State Bank Commissioner is responsible for regulating and examining State-chartered banks and trust companies and licensed financial services businesses". | Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Lewes
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Lewes:
- 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 Delaware using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.