South Toms River at a glance
- Population: 3,736 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 221st-largest of 323 places in New Jersey.
- 2020 Census base: 3,647 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 2.4% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: 221st out of 323 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 32% of places in New Jersey rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.9391 / -74.2070, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Beachwood, NJ (1 mi); Point Pleasant, NJ (12 mi); Point Pleasant Beach, NJ (14 mi); Brielle, NJ (14 mi); Manasquan, NJ (15 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: Pine Beach, NJ (2 mi); Island Heights, NJ (3 mi); Ocean Gate, NJ (4 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in South Toms River
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
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 useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in South Toms River
The table carries the New Jersey rate and licensing rules that apply to consumer loans made in South Toms River.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in South Toms River
Run through this list before signing anything in South Toms River:
- 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.