Santa Clara at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,608 people; 51st of 105 places in New Mexico (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,635 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 1.7% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Mexico places: 51st of 105 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 51% of places in New Mexico rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 32.7800, -108.1493 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Bayard, NM (2 mi); Silver City, NM (7 mi); Deming, NM (43 mi); Lordsburg, NM (44 mi); Truth or Consequences, NM (60 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Hurley, NM (6 mi); Virden, NM (50 mi); Duncan, AZ (55 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Santa Clara
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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 offer you receive reflects the lender's read of your credit, income and debts, and the term controls the balance between payment size and total interest.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
New Mexico lending rules that apply in Santa Clara
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Santa Clara: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 15% annually absent a written contract fixing a different rate (NMSA 1978, 56-8-3) Source says: "The rate of interest, in the absence of a written contract fixing a different rate, shall be not more than fifteen percent annually" | New Mexico Compilation Commission (NMOneSource, official NMSA) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Payday-style small loans capped at 36% APR (HB 132 of 2022; effective January 1, 2023; cap rises only if prime rate exceeds 10% for three consecutive months) Source says: "a permitted annual percentage rate greater than thirty-six percent, calculated pursuant to 12 CFR Part 1026" | New Mexico Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Lenders making Bank Installment Loan Act loans (other than federally insured depositories) must be licensed under the Small Loan Act (2022 requirement) Source says: "a new requirement for lenders making loans under the BILA (other than a federally insured depository institution) to be licensed under the SLA" | New Mexico Legislature (Legislative Finance Committee fiscal impact report) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Mexico Financial Institutions Division (FID), Regulation and Licensing Department Source says: "We regulate a variety of financial institutions operating in New Mexico including:" | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small loan company licensing/regulation | Small loan companies are a regulated institution category of the Financial Institutions Division Source says: "Small Loan Companies" | New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Financial Institutions Division as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Santa Clara
Before you commit to a personal loan in Santa Clara, work through these steps:
- 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 Mexico using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.