Stratford at a glance
- Population: roughly 682 people; 381st of 940 places in Iowa (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 701 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a decline of roughly 2.7% between the 2020 count and the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Iowa places: 381st-largest of 940 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: it is larger than about 59% of the places in Iowa (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 42.2696, -93.9274.
- Nearest larger cities: Dayton, IA (7 mi); Webster City, IA (14 mi); Jewell Junction, IA (15 mi); Boone, IA (15 mi); Ogden, IA (17 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Smaller places nearby: Stanhope, IA (7 mi); Lehigh, IA (9 mi); Pilot Mound, IA (9 mi), per US Census Bureau estimates.
What a personal loan costs in Stratford
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
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.
Stretching the term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest you pay, so the smallest payment is not automatically the cheapest loan.
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 Stratford
Read the table as the compliance picture for a lender serving Stratford: 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 Stratford
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Stratford:
- 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.