Soledad at a glance
- Population: 23,947 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 278th-largest of 482 places in California.
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 24,932 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 4.0% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among California places: 278th of 482 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: about 42% of places in California are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 36.4345 / -121.3178, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Salinas, CA (25 mi); Hollister, CA (29 mi); Seaside, CA (31 mi); Monterey, CA (33 mi); Watsonville, CA (42 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Gonzales, CA (9 mi); Greenfield, CA (9 mi); King City, CA (18 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Soledad
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
California lending rules that apply in Soledad
The California rate caps and licensing rules that reach Soledad are listed below, each with its source and retrieval 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 Soledad
Run through this list before signing anything in Soledad:
- 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.