Dayton at a glance
- Population: about 135,512 residents, ranking 6th of 924 Census places in Ohio (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 137,625 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down about 1.5% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Ohio places: 6th by size among 924 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 99% of Ohio places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 39.7847, -84.1996.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Cincinnati, OH (47 mi); Columbus, OH (66 mi); Fort Wayne, IN (103 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Riverside, OH (4 mi); Oakwood, OH (5 mi); Moraine, OH (6 mi) (US Census Bureau).
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.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
Ohio lending rules that apply in Dayton
The table lists the Ohio rules that apply to a loan made in Dayton, each with the regulator that published it.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance licenses required for non-depository lenders, including Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, short-term lenders, and small loan lenders. Source says: "We issue and manage licenses for companies and individuals under multiple Ohio statutes." (page's regulated-statutes list names Consumer Installment Loan Act lenders, General Loan Law lenders, Short-term lenders, Small loan lenders). | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (Consumer Finance Section). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Section is responsible for regulating non-depository consumer lenders and related consumer finance businesses." | Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 8% per annum maximum by written agreement for the general case; higher rates permitted only in specified cases (e.g., principal over $100,000, business loans, certain mortgages). Source says: "may stipulate therein for the payment of interest upon the amount thereof at any rate not exceeding eight per cent per annum payable annually" (Ohio Rev. Code 1343.01(A)). [codes.ohio.gov content retrieved via search-engine fetch of the official section; direct connections blocked from our network] | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at 28% per annum; total fees and charges capped at 60% of the originally contracted loan amount. Source says: "(A) Interest not exceeding a rate of twenty-eight per cent per annum" (Ohio Rev. Code 1321.40); total fees/charges capped at "a total amount of fees and charges that exceeds sixty per cent of the originally contracted loan amount" (1321.403). | Ohio Laws (Ohio Revised Code - official state publication) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dayton
Run through this list before signing anything 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 Ohio using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.