Beaver Dam at a glance
- Population: 16,531 people, the 54th-largest place among Wisconsin's 605 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 16,710 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 1.1% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Wisconsin places: 54th in population of 605 places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 91% of places in Wisconsin rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 43.4681, -88.8309 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Watertown, WI (20 mi); Sun Prairie, WI (28 mi); Fond du Lac, WI (29 mi); Oconomowoc, WI (30 mi); West Bend, WI (33 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller places close by: Fox Lake, WI (8 mi); Juneau, WI (8 mi); Lowell, WI (9 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Beaver Dam
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
Two loans can share an interest rate and still differ in APR once fees are counted, so compare APR; our personal loan calculator shows the difference over the full term.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
A payment that strains the budget is a warning sign; a smaller loan or a little more saving time is the safer route.
Wisconsin lending rules that apply in Beaver Dam
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Beaver Dam: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum ($12 per $100) on the declining principal balance, except as authorized by other statutes (Wis. Stat. § 138.05(1)(a)) Source says: At the rate of $12 upon $100 for one year computed upon the declining principal balance of the loan or forbearance | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal and licensed by the DFI Division of Banking; statewide database tracking (Wis. Stat. § 138.14) Source says: "Licensee" means a person holding a license issued by the division under sub. (5) | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed lender license required from the Division of Banking (Wis. Stat. § 138.09) Source says: Before any person may do business under this section, that person shall first obtain a license from the division. | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Banking Source says: "Department" means the department of financial institutions | Wisconsin State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Beaver Dam
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Beaver Dam:
- 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 Wisconsin using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.