Dover at a glance
- Population: 1,949 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 434th-largest of 1,013 places in Pennsylvania.
- 2020 Census base: 1,954 people counted in the 2020 Census (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: a loss of about 0.3% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Pennsylvania places: 434th of 1,013 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: larger than about 57% of the Census places in Pennsylvania (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 40.0033, -76.8484 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: West York, PA (6 mi); North York, PA (6 mi); York, PA (7 mi); Manchester, PA (8 mi); Spring Grove, PA (9 mi); each population is a US Census Bureau estimate.
- Nearest smaller towns: Wellsville, PA (6 mi); New Salem, PA (8 mi); East Berlin, PA (8 mi) (US Census Bureau).
What a personal loan costs in Dover
Personal loans are installment credit — one lump sum, repaid in equal monthly installments across a fixed term you agree to up front.
APR is the figure that lets you compare like with like, since it wraps fees into the rate; run your own numbers with the personal loan calculator.
A longer repayment period spreads the cost and increases the interest paid, so compare total cost, not just the monthly figure.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Pennsylvania lending rules that apply in Dover
The Pennsylvania rate caps and licensing rules that reach Dover are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer Discount Company Act license required for non-mortgage consumer loans above 6%; licensed lenders may charge up to 24% on loans of $25,000 or less. Source says: "A consumer discount company is a business corporation that negotiates or makes non-mortgage loans or advances of money on credit." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) Source says: "The Department of Banking and Securities regulates financial services in Pennsylvania." | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Bank rate-cap exemption (state-specific rule) | Pennsylvania state-chartered banks are not subject to state interest-rate caps (Banking Code Sections 303/506 supersede the LIPL 6% cap). Source says: "Pennsylvania law does not impose any restrictions on the interest rate that Pennsylvania state-chartered banks may charge to customers." (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 6% per annum maximum for loans of $50,000 or less where no lower rate is contracted (41 P.S. 201(a)). Source says: "the maximum lawful rate of interest for the loan or use of money... shall be six per cent per annum" (Loan Interest and Protection Law, Section 201(a)). | Pennsylvania General Assembly (Laws of Pennsylvania, Act 6 of 1974) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | No separate payday-lending license; non-bank lenders are limited to 6% (unlicensed) or up to 24% (CDCA-licensed), so high-cost payday loans are not permitted. Source says: "if a lender is licensed by the Department in accord with the CDCA, it can charge between 6-24% on loans under $25,000" (DoBS interpretive letter, May 11, 2023). | Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Dover
Here is a short checklist for comparing personal loans in Dover:
- 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 Pennsylvania using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.