Dawson at a glance
- Population: the Census estimates 4,200 residents, ranking 156th of 536 places in Georgia (Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 4,406 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 4.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Georgia places: 156th of the state's 536 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 71% of places in Georgia are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 31.7719, -84.4435 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Albany, GA (21 mi); Americus, GA (25 mi); Blakely, GA (39 mi); Sylvester, GA (40 mi); Camilla, GA (40 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller communities: Bronwood, GA (6 mi); Sasser, GA (7 mi); Parrott, GA (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Dawson
A personal loan hands you a single sum and a repayment schedule of equal monthly installments over an agreed term.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
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.
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.
Georgia lending rules that apply in Dawson
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Georgia, and therefore in Dawson.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Payday lending status | Prohibited (payday lending illegal in Georgia) Source says: "Payday lending is illegal in Georgia." | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Installment lender license required for loans of $3,000 or less Source says: "any entity making loans of $3,000.00 or less to individuals must be licensed with the Department as an installment lender". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (DBF) Source says: "The Non-depository division supervises mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, and mortgage loan originators, as well as installment lenders, check cashers, and money transmitters". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Installment Loan Act rate cap | 10% per annum of the face amount of the contract (licensed installment loans) Source says: "may charge interest at a rate not to exceed 10 percent per annum of the face amount of the contract". | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | See the latest published figure value_text left null: Georgia's rate ceilings are set by O.C.G.A. Title 7, Chapter 4 (O.C.G.A. §§ 7-4-1 to 7-4-21); the Department of Banking and Finance does not publish the figure and the official code host could not be fetched, so no figure is asserted. | Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dawson
Before you commit to a personal loan in Dawson, work through these steps:
- 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 Georgia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.