Dalton at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 1,289, placing it 539th among Pennsylvania's 1,013 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 1,277 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.9% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: the 539th-largest of 1,013 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 47% of the places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 41.5376 / -75.7383, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Clarks Green, PA (3 mi); Clarks Summit, PA (4 mi); Dickson City, PA (7 mi); Blakely, PA (8 mi); Taylor, PA (10 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Smaller towns nearby: Factoryville, PA (3 mi); Nicholson, PA (7 mi); Hop Bottom, PA (12 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Dalton
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Dalton
The table lists the Pennsylvania rules that apply to a loan made in Dalton, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dalton
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Dalton:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.