Ridgefield at a glance
- Population: 11,417 — 92nd in New Jersey, which has 323 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 11,495 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 0.7% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 92nd in population of 323 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 72% of New Jersey's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: latitude 40.8327, longitude -74.0141 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Fairview, NJ (1 mi); Palisades Park, NJ (1 mi); Cliffside Park, NJ (2 mi); Ridgefield Park, NJ (2 mi); Edgewater, NJ (2 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller places: Little Ferry, NJ (1 mi); Moonachie, NJ (2 mi); Leonia, NJ (3 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Ridgefield
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
The APR is the comparable price of a loan since it folds in fees; model any offer with the personal loan calculator first.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Ridgefield
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Jersey, and therefore in Ridgefield.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Civil usury: rates above 6% (agreement not in writing) or above 16% (written contract specifying the rate) Source says: "the civil usury rate is any interest rate greater than 6 percent for an agreement that is not in writing" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Unlicensed payday lending violates New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates; payday lenders must be licensed Source says: "out-of-state or foreign entities that have not obtained the required New Jersey license and whose payment terms violate New Jersey's civil and criminal usury rates" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required for loans of $50,000 or less for personal, family, or household purposes (N.J.S.A. 17:11C-1 et seq.) Source says: "A consumer lender license is required for the making of a loan that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI); Office of Consumer Finance supervises consumer lenders Source says: "The Office of Consumer Finance regulates 16 types of businesses that provide a variety of consumer financial services." | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Criminal usury limits | 30% for non-corporate borrowers; 50% for corporations Source says: "the criminal usury limitation is 50 percent for corporations and 30 percent for non-corporate borrowers" | New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Ridgefield
A few practical steps will make the process in Ridgefield 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 New Jersey using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.