Clayton at a glance
- Population: about 10, 197th by size in Idaho of 197 places (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 Census recorded 9 residents here (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: roughly 11.1% higher than at the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Idaho places: 197th out of 197 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 0% of Idaho's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 44.2592, -114.3831 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Challis, ID (19 mi); Stanley, ID (27 mi); Ketchum, ID (40 mi); Sun Valley, ID (40 mi); Mackay, ID (45 mi) (Census populations, approximate straight-line distance).
- Nearest smaller towns: none within 120 miles of Clayton (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Clayton
A personal loan is structured as an installment plan, with a set number of monthly payments and a fixed amount due each time.
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-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.
Idaho lending rules that apply in Clayton
Every figure in the table below is sourced to a publisher with a date; where a state does not publish a number, we say so rather than estimate.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum legal rate (when no written contract fixes a different rate) Source says: "interest is allowed at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) on the hundred by the year". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Permitted under license (payday loan license required) Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of payday loans ... without having first obtained a license under this chapter". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Regulated Lenders License required (regulated consumer loans) Source says: "unless a person is exempt ... he shall not engage in the business of: (a) Making regulated consumer loans". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Idaho Department of Finance (IDOF) Source says: "Safeguarding the financial health of Idahoans through the appropriate oversight of diverse financial institutions, the education and protection of consumers". | Idaho Department of Finance as of 2026-09-16 |
| Idaho Credit Code finance-charge rule | No statutory maximum finance-charge rate — rate as agreed by the parties (Idaho Credit Code) Source says: "the rate of finance charge shall be that which is agreed upon between the parties to the transaction". | Idaho State Legislature as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Clayton
Before you share your details with a lender in Clayton:
- 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 Idaho using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.