Scottsdale at a glance
- Population: 244,394 people, the 7th-largest place among Arizona's 91 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: the 2020 count put the population at 241,340 (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: up about 1.3% from the 2020 Census base to the 2023 estimate (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Arizona places: 7th largest of 91 (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: roughly 92% of places in Arizona rank below it by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 33.6843, -111.8614 (Census Gazetteer, US Census Bureau).
- Nearest larger cities within 120 miles: Phoenix, AZ (15 mi); Mesa, AZ (21 mi); Glendale, AZ (22 mi); Gilbert, AZ (27 mi); Chandler, AZ (28 mi) (US Census Bureau).
- Nearest smaller communities: Fountain Hills, AZ (9 mi); Carefree, AZ (10 mi); Paradise Valley, AZ (11 mi), each a US Census place.
What a personal loan costs in Scottsdale
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.
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.
If you are consolidating debt, the loan only helps if you stop adding to the balances it clears; otherwise the total debt grows.
Arizona lending rules that apply in Scottsdale
Each row below is a Arizona rule with its publisher and the date it was retrieved.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer lender loan rate caps (§ 6-632) | Consumer loans: 36% per year on principal up to $3,000; for larger loans, 36% on the first $3,000 and 24% above $3,000 Source says: "a consumer loan rate of thirty-six per cent"; "a consumer loan rate of twenty-four per cent on that part of the principal amount greater than three thousand dollars". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-632 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year default; any rate may be agreed in writing (other than medical debt) Source says: "interest shall be at the rate of ten percent a year, unless a different rate is contracted for in writing". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 44-1201 as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Not permitted — payday lending authorization expired June 30, 2010; DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders; consumer loans over 36% APR illegal since July 1, 2010 Source says: "The law allowing payday loans in Arizona expired on June 30, 2010. DIFI no longer licenses payday lenders." | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer lender license required from the deputy director (A.R.S. Title 6, Chapter 5); at least $25,000 in assets readily available per licensed office; license not transferable Source says: "shall not engage in the business of a consumer lender without first being licensed as a consumer lender". | Arizona State Legislature — A.R.S. § 6-603 as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Source says: "The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI)". | Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Scottsdale
A few practical steps will make the process in Scottsdale 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 Arizona using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.