Patterson at a glance
- Population: 25,063 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 272nd-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: 23,786 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 5.4% more residents than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 272nd of the state's 482 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 44% of places in California are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 37.4759, -121.1539.
- Nearest larger cities: Ceres, CA (13 mi); Modesto, CA (14 mi); Turlock, CA (16 mi); Manteca, CA (22 mi); Tracy, CA (24 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Newman, CA (13 mi); Gustine, CA (18 mi); Hughson, CA (18 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Patterson
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
California lending rules that apply in Patterson
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Patterson: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Patterson
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Patterson:
- 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.