Flagstaff at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 76,586, placing it 15th among Arizona's 91 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 76,848 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 0.3% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arizona places: 15th largest of 91 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 84% of places in Arizona are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 35.1852 / -111.6207, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Peoria, AZ (104 mi); Scottsdale, AZ (105 mi); Phoenix, AZ (115 mi); Surprise, AZ (115 mi); Glendale, AZ (119 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller towns: Sedona, AZ (25 mi); Williams, AZ (32 mi); Cottonwood, AZ (36 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in Flagstaff
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
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.
Arizona lending rules that apply in Flagstaff
The Arizona rate caps and licensing rules that reach Flagstaff are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year default; any rate may be agreed in writing (other than medical debt) Source says: "interest shall be at the rate of ten percent a year, unless a different rate is contracted for in writing". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 44-1201 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday lending authorization expired June 30, 2010; DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders; consumer loans over 36% APR illegal since July 1, 2010 Source says: "The law allowing payday loans in Arizona expired on June 30, 2010. DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders." | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required from the deputy director (A.R.S. Title 6, Chapter 5); at least $25,000 in assets readily available per licensed office; license not transferable Source says: "shall not engage in the business of a consumer lender without first being licensed as a consumer lender". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-603 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Source says: "The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI)". | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Consumer lender loan rate caps (§ 6-632) | Consumer loans: 36% per year on principal up to $3,000; for larger loans, 36% on the first $3,000 and 24% above $3,000 Source says: "a consumer loan rate of thirty-six per cent"; "a consumer loan rate of twenty-four per cent on that part of the principal amount greater than three thousand dollars". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-632 as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Flagstaff
Run through this list before signing anything in Flagstaff:
- 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 Arizona using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.