Drayton at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 735, placing it 70th among North Dakota's 355 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 758 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: population fell about 3.0% (US Census Bureau Vintage 2023 estimate vs 2020 Census).
- Rank among North Dakota places: 70th of the state's 355 Census places (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 80% of places in North Dakota rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: the Census Gazetteer places it at 48.5621, -97.1795.
- Nearest larger cities: Grafton, ND (15 mi); Hallock, MN (18 mi); Cavalier, ND (26 mi); Park River, ND (28 mi); Warren, MN (32 mi) — straight-line distances, US Census Bureau populations.
- Nearest smaller communities: St. Thomas, ND (13 mi); Donaldson, MN (13 mi); Kennedy, MN (14 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Drayton
A personal loan is an installment loan: you receive a lump sum and repay it in fixed monthly payments over a set term, usually two to seven years.
Because the APR includes origination and finance charges, it is the honest comparison number; the personal loan calculator turns an APR and term into a monthly payment.
The term is the lever: extend it and the payment falls while total interest climbs; shorten it and the reverse happens.
Pre-qualifying with several lenders takes minutes, uses a soft pull, and gives you real numbers to compare before any hard inquiry.
North Dakota lending rules that apply in Drayton
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in North Dakota, and therefore in Drayton.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | Formula ceiling: 6-month U.S. Treasury bill average + 5.5 percentage points, never less than 7%; NDDFI-published rate for September 2026: 9.204%. Source says: "The rate is equal to five and one-half percent (5.5%) higher than the current cost of money" and "the maximum allowable interest rate ceiling may not be less than seven (7) percent" (NDDFI Usury Rate page; September 2026 rate 9.204%). | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed deferred presentment service providers; fee capped at 20% of amount advanced; max $500 per transaction; $600 aggregate outstanding per customer. Source says: "A licensee may charge a fee for the deferred presentment service, not to exceed twenty percent of the amount paid to the customer" (N.D.C.C. 13-08-12); "may not disburse more than five hundred dollars to the customer in a deferred presentment service transaction" (13-08-12.3). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (NDDFI) Source says: "The Department also licenses and regulates Money Brokers... Deferred Presentment Service Providers (Payday Lenders), Collection Agencies, Debt Settlement Service Providers, and Money Transmitters." | North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions as of 2026-09-16 |
| Usury penalties (state-specific rule) | Usury forfeits all interest plus 25% of principal; charging usurious interest is a class B misdemeanor. Source says: "shall be deemed a forfeiture of the entire interest" and "a forfeiture of twenty-five percent of the principal" (N.D.C.C. 47-14-10); usury is a class B misdemeanor (47-14-11). | North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Drayton
Before you share your details with a lender in Drayton:
- 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 North Dakota using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.