Dayton at a glance
- Population: 2,510, the 152nd-largest community in Washington out of 281 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 2,443 residents (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census).
- 2020 to 2023 change: about 2.7% growth over the 2020 Census base (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Washington places: 152nd largest of 281 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 46% of places in Washington are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 46.3168, -117.9768 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities (120-mile radius): Walla Walla, WA (24 mi); College Place, WA (28 mi); Milton-Freewater, OR (33 mi); Clarkston, WA (45 mi); Lewiston, ID (47 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Waitsburg, WA (9 mi); Starbuck, WA (16 mi); Prescott, WA (16 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Dayton
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
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.
Because interest accrues for longer, a longer term means a lower installment and a higher total cost — decide which matters more to you.
Work out the payment you can comfortably carry each month first, then borrow no more than that figure supports.
Washington lending rules that apply in Dayton
Each row below is a Washington rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Source says: DFI licenses and regulates financial institutions and service providers in Washington. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per annum, or four points above the Federal Reserve bill rate, whichever is higher (RCW 19.52.020) Source says: any rate of interest shall be legal so long as the rate of interest does not exceed the higher of: (a) Twelve percent per annum | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Licensed; small loans capped at $700 or 30% of monthly income, max 45 days, fees 15% on first $500 and 10% above (RCW 31.45) Source says: Payday lenders must be licensed by DFI — including online lenders that do business with Washington residents. | Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Loan Company license required (Consumer Loan Act, RCW 31.04.035) Source says: No person may engage in any activity subject to this chapter without first obtaining and maintaining a license in accordance with this chapter. | Washington State Legislature (RCW) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dayton
A few practical steps will make the process in Dayton 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 Washington using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.