Dayton at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 759, placing it 343rd among Iowa's 940 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 774 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 1.9% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 343rd-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: larger than about 64% of the Census places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 42.2622, -94.0711 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Gowrie, IA (11 mi); Ogden, IA (16 mi); Boone, IA (18 mi); Fort Dodge, IA (18 mi); Webster City, IA (19 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Harcourt, IA (5 mi); Boxholm, IA (6 mi); Lehigh, IA (7 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Dayton
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
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.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Dayton
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Dayton: label, sourced figure, publisher and date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Delayed deposit fee cap | Fee cap: $15 on first $100 of check face amount; $10 on subsequent $100 increments Source says: "fifteen dollars on the first one hundred dollars ... or more than ten dollars on subsequent one hundred dollar increments". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 2 percentage points above the monthly average 10-year U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate (written agreements) Source says: "The maximum lawful rate of interest ... in any written agreement ... shall be two percentage points above the monthly average ten-year constant maturity interest rate". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (delayed deposit services; must be physically located in Iowa) Source says: "A person shall not operate a delayed deposit services business in this state unless the person is physically located in this state and licensed by the superintendent". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Loan Act license required (superintendent of banking) Source says: "shall not engage in the business of making loans ... without first obtaining a license from the superintendent of banking". | Iowa Legislature (Iowa Code) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Iowa Division of Banking (IDOB), Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services Source says: "As part of the 2023 state government realignment, the IDOB became part of a new Department of Insurance and Financial Services". | Iowa Division of Banking as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dayton
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Dayton:
- 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 Iowa using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.