Dows at a glance
- Population: 509 residents, the 433rd-largest of 940 places in Iowa (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 526 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.2% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among Iowa places: the 433rd-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 54% of Iowa's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.6584, -93.5020 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Alden, IA (12 mi); Clarion, IA (13 mi); Belmond, IA (14 mi); Iowa Falls, IA (15 mi); Hampton, IA (16 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Smaller places nearby: Galt, IA (6 mi); Popejoy, IA (6 mi); Rowan, IA (6 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Dows
A personal loan gives you the full amount at once and spreads repayment over a set number of months at a fixed payment.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
Iowa lending rules that apply in Dows
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in Iowa, and therefore in Dows.
| 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 Dows
A few practical steps will make the process in Dows less costly:
- 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.