Red Hook at a glance
- Population: 1,949 residents, the 307th-largest of 595 places in New York (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,975 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.3% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among New York places: 307th of the state's 595 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 48% of New York's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.9958, -73.8765 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Rhinebeck, NY (5 mi); Saugerties, NY (6 mi); Kingston, NY (8 mi); Catskill, NY (15 mi); Hudson, NY (18 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Smaller places nearby: Tivoli, NY (5 mi); Millbrook, NY (17 mi); Millerton, NY (19 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Red Hook
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
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.
New York lending rules that apply in Red Hook
The New York rate caps and licensing rules that reach Red Hook are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Red Hook
These steps are the ones that most affect the offer you receive in Red Hook:
- 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 New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.