Dallas at a glance
- Population: about 1,302,868 residents, ranking 3rd of 1,224 Census places in Texas (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 1,304,182 residents in the 2020 Census, per the US Census Bureau.
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 0.1% lower than the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 3rd of the state's 1,224 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 99% of Texas's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: mapped at 32.7933, -96.7665 by the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: none within 120 miles of Dallas by straight-line distance.
- Nearest smaller communities: Highland Park, TX (3 mi); University Park, TX (4 mi); Cockrell Hill, TX (8 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Dallas
Most personal loans are unsecured, meaning no collateral is pledged, and they are repaid in equal installments over a fixed term.
APR, not the simple interest rate, reflects what the loan actually costs once fees are included; the personal loan calculator puts a figure on it.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Shop with more than one lender and treat pre-qualification as an estimate, since the final terms follow a full application.
Texas lending rules that apply in Dallas
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dallas
Before you commit to a personal loan in Dallas, work through these steps:
- 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 Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.