Surf City at a glance
- Population: roughly 1,288 people; 287th of 323 places in New Jersey (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 1,244 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 3.5% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New Jersey places: the 287th-largest of 323 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: roughly 11% of New Jersey's places have fewer residents (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 39.6643, -74.1716 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Tuckerton, NJ (10 mi); Ocean Gate, NJ (18 mi); Beachwood, NJ (18 mi); Seaside Park, NJ (19 mi); Pine Beach, NJ (19 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Ship Bottom, NJ (1 mi); Harvey Cedars, NJ (3 mi); Barnegat Light, NJ (7 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Surf City
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
Judge an offer by its APR, which blends the interest rate with fees, and use the personal loan calculator to see the total cost.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
New Jersey lending rules that apply in Surf City
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New Jersey, and therefore in Surf City.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
How to compare offers in Surf City
Run through this list before signing anything in Surf City:
- 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.