Syracuse at a glance
- Population: 145,560, the 5th-largest community in New York out of 595 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 148,615 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 2.1% fewer residents than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 5th of 595 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: roughly 99% of places in New York rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 43.0410 / -76.1436, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Rochester, NY (75 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Smaller places close by: Solvay, NY (4 mi); East Syracuse, NY (4 mi); Liverpool, NY (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Syracuse
The defining feature of a personal loan is the fixed installment: the same payment every month until the term ends.
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.
Choosing a longer term eases the monthly budget but adds interest over the life of the loan; a shorter term costs more per month and less overall.
Pre-qualification is a good first filter: it shows the rate and amount a lender may offer before you agree to a full application and a hard inquiry.
New York lending rules that apply in Syracuse
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Syracuse
The steps below are worth completing first when you borrow in Syracuse:
- 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 York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.