Somersworth at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 12,192 residents, ranking 11th of 13 places in New Hampshire (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 11,860 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 2.8% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Hampshire places: 11th-largest of 13 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 15% of the places in New Hampshire (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 43.2535, -70.8879 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Dover, NH (5 mi); Rochester, NH (5 mi); Sanford, ME (13 mi); Portsmouth, NH (14 mi); Biddeford, ME (28 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller places: Franklin, NH (42 mi); Bath, ME (70 mi); Bellows Falls, VT (80 mi) (US Census Bureau estimates).
What a personal loan costs in Somersworth
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.
Compare every quote on APR because it includes the fees the interest rate hides, and check the payment with our personal loan calculator.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
New Hampshire lending rules that apply in Somersworth
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Hampshire, and therefore in Somersworth.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small loan APR cap (RSA 399-A:16) | Small loans other than payday or title loans: annual percentage rate capped at 36% Source says: "The annual percentage rate for small loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year in business transactions absent a written agreement; consumer credit transactions excluded Source says: "The annual rate of interest in all business transactions in which interest is paid or secured, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, shall equal 10 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal; annual percentage rate capped at 36% (RSA 399-A:17) Source says: "The annual percentage rate for payday loans shall not exceed 36 percent." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Small loan, payday, and title loan lenders must be licensed by the banking department (RSA 399-A:2) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of a small loan lender in this state ... without first obtaining a license from the commissioner" | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New Hampshire Banking Department Source says: ""Department" means the banking department." | New Hampshire General Court (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Somersworth
Before you share your details with a lender in Somersworth:
- 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 Hampshire using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.