Personal loans in Port Townsend, WA
The roughly 10,502 people who live in Port Townsend borrow under Washington rules; city hall sets no personal-loan rate. Roughly 10,502 residents live in Port Townsend, the 89th-largest community in Washington.
From the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate, the population rose by about 3.5%. Consumer lending that reaches Port Townsend's 10,502 residents is governed by Washington statute; no city ordinance changes it. Price two or three terms so you can see which payment is truly affordable in Port Townsend. The closest larger place is Oak Harbor, WA about 14 miles away.
Where Port Townsend stands
Set out below is Port Townsend's local context next to the state-level rules that reach every lender here.
- Population: about 10,502, ranked 89th of 281 places in Washington (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- Population trend: Higher by roughly 3.5% since the 2020 count.
- Net change: roughly 355 more people than the 2020 Census counted.
- Size percentile: about 68% of Washington communities are smaller than Port Townsend (10,502 residents).
- Population density: about 1,513 people per square mile (Census land area 6.9 sq mi).
- By land area: Port Townsend ranks 68th among Washington's 281 places, at 6.9 sq mi.
- Water: Port Townsend holds about 0.41 square miles, the 63rd-largest water area in Washington.
- Within Washington: about 0.2% of the state's population lives in Port Townsend.
- National rank: Port Townsend is the 3,041st most populous of the 19,457 Census places covered here.
- Growth rank: Port Townsend's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 93rd of 281 places in Washington.
- State comparison: Washington's places average +2.8% for 2020-to-2023, against Port Townsend's 3.5%.
- Density rank: Port Townsend is the 142nd most densely settled place in Washington.
- Against the state median: Port Townsend runs about 1,513 residents per square mile, where the Washington median is 1,518.
- Location: 48.1218, -122.7879 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Oak Harbor (14 mi); Anacortes (26 mi); Mukilteo (27 mi); Poulsbo (27 mi); Edmonds (29 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Port Townsend whether or not they keep a local branch.
- Nearest smaller towns: Coupeville (8 mi); Sequim (14 mi); Langley (19 mi) — useful context for the surrounding area.
- Within a 50-mile radius: 20 smaller Census places.
- At 100 miles: 63 larger Census places fall inside that radius.
Washington consumer-lending rules applied in Port Townsend
Every row below records a Washington rule, its publisher and its retrieval date — the same rules a Port Townsend lender must follow.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
Port Townsend against the rest of Washington
Against Washington's other places, Port Townsend accounts for about 0.2% of the state's population and ranks 89th of 281 by size. On the 2020-to-2023 trend, Port Townsend stands 93rd among Washington's 281 places — roughly the 67th percentile. Its roughly 1,513 residents per square mile place it 142nd among Washington's places. By land area, its 6.9 square miles rank 68th of 281 places in Washington.
Lender access in Port Townsend
At roughly 1,513 people per square mile, Port Townsend is moderately settled; 32 larger places lie within 50 miles. Lenders licensed in Washington reach Port Townsend's 10,502 residents online, so the nearest branch is not what sets your APR. The nearest larger city, Oak Harbor, WA about 14 miles away.
The Port Townsend borrowing checklist
Before you hand your details to a lender in Port Townsend, where the population is near 10,502:
- Check all three credit reports for mistakes, because an error you fix now is a lower rate later.
- Run the numbers on the personal loan calculator so you know the payment before you apply.
- Line up several pre-qualified offers and let the APR decide.
- Confirm the lender holds a Washington licence by checking the regulator named above.
- Borrow only what the purpose requires, not the maximum you are offered.
- Write down the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before you apply.
- If debt is already a struggle, talk to a nonprofit credit counsellor before borrowing more.
None of these steps is Port Townsend-specific: the same Washington licensing and disclosure rules reach all 10,502 residents.
How personal loans work in Port Townsend
A Port Townsend personal loan is an installment loan: a lump sum, then fixed monthly payments over a set term, priced off your credit rather than its 10,502 residents. Federal Truth in Lending rules require a Port Townsend lender to disclose the APR and finance charge before you sign. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Port Townsend loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.
Common questions
What are my options in Port Townsend if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Port Townsend?
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Does comparing loans in Port Townsend cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Coupeville, WA — population 1,928
- Oak Harbor, WA — population 24,016
- Sequim, WA — population 8,203
- Langley, WA — population 1,146
- La Conner, WA — population 982
- Anacortes, WA — population 18,012
- Poulsbo, WA — population 12,171
- Stanwood, WA — population 9,016