Personal loans in Clayton, AL

By population, Clayton sits at 173rd in Alabama, with an estimated 2,212 residents. Clayton shed about 2.3% of its population between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate. A lender serving Clayton holds a Alabama licence and answers to a Alabama regulator; no city office is involved for its 2,212 residents. Consumer lending that reaches Clayton's 2,212 residents is governed by Alabama statute; no city ordinance changes it. Rate-shopping from Clayton costs nothing at pre-qualification, where a soft pull leaves your credit file alone. The closest larger place is Eufaula, AL about 18 miles away.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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What the Census records for Clayton

What follows is Clayton's place in the Census record, alongside the Alabama rules that govern a personal loan made here.

Population: 2,212 — Clayton ranks 173rd of 462 communities in Alabama (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
Population trend: The 2020-to-2023 change is negative, near 2.3%.
Absolute change: 51 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
Size percentile: roughly 63% of Alabama places rank below Clayton.
Land and density: 6.8 square miles of land carry roughly 326 residents per square mile.
Land area rank: Clayton's 6.8 square miles rank 204th of 462 places in Alabama.
Within Alabama: about 0.1% of the state's population lives in Clayton.
National standing: Clayton ranks 7,259th of 19,457 US places.
Growth rank: Clayton's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 337th of 462 places in Alabama.
State comparison: Alabama's places average +1.0% for 2020-to-2023, against Clayton's 2.3%.
Density rank: Clayton is the 177th most densely settled place in Alabama.
Density in context: Clayton's 326 people per square mile sit against a Alabama median of 259.
Location: 31.8823, -85.4605 (Census Gazetteer coordinates).
Nearest larger cities: Eufaula (18 mi); Union Springs (23 mi); Abbeville (25 mi); Georgetown-Quitman County (27 mi); Troy (30 mi). Any of them may have more branches, but statewide rules and your credit still set the price.
Smaller places close by: Louisville (9 mi); Bakerhill (12 mi); Midway (14 mi).
Within a 50-mile radius: 33 smaller Census places.
Larger places within 100 miles: 68.

The Alabama lending rules that reach Clayton

Every row below records a Alabama rule, its publisher and its retrieval date — the same rules a Clayton lender must follow.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	Alabama State Banking Department — Bureau of Loans (BOL) Source says: "The Bureau of Loans (hereinafter “the BOL”) was established in 1945". The BOL administers the Small Loan Act, Consumer Credit Act, Pawn Shop Act, Mortgage Brokers Licensing Act, Deferred Presentment Services Act and SAFE Act.	Alabama State Banking Department as of 2026-09-16
Payday lending status	Permitted — deferred presentment services licensed by the supervisor; maximum advance $500; maximum fee 17.5% of amount advanced Source says: "a maximum fee on any deferred presentment transaction not to exceed 17.5 percent of the amount advanced"; "The maximum amount that may be advanced in any deferred presentment transaction is five hundred dollars ($500)".	Alabama State Banking Department — Deferred Presentment Services Act (Code of Alabama §§ 5-18A-1 et seq.) as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Alabama Small Loan Act license required from the supervisor for loans under $1,500; interest capped at 3% per month on the first $200 and 2% per month on $200–$1,500 Source says: "No person shall engage in the business of lending in amounts of less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500)"; "without first having obtained a license from the supervisor"; "not exceeding three percent a month on that part of the unpaid principal balance not in excess of two hundred dollars".	Alabama State Banking Department — Alabama Small Loan Act (Code of Alabama §§ 5-18-1 et seq.) as of 2026-09-16

A pre-application checklist for Clayton

Before you hand your details to a lender in Clayton, where the population is near 2,212:

Get all three reports, dispute anything wrong, and keep the corrected file for your applications.
Test your amount and term in the personal loan calculator first.
Line up several pre-qualified offers and let the APR decide.
Confirm the Alabama licence with the regulator named above before committing.
Check the disclosure for fees that raise the true cost above the quoted rate.
Make sure the new payment leaves room in a budget you already keep.
Choose a term you can live with; stretching it lowers the payment but raises total interest.

None of these steps is Clayton-specific: the same Alabama licensing and disclosure rules reach all 2,212 residents.

What is available to Clayton borrowers

Clayton is a lightly settled community of about 2,212 people, with 22 larger places inside a 50-mile radius. What is available to Clayton's 2,212 borrowers is set by Alabama licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. For a larger market, the closest option is Eufaula, AL about 18 miles away.

Clayton in state context

Within Alabama, Clayton holds roughly 0.1% of all residents, the 173rd-largest share among 462 places. On the 2020-to-2023 trend, Clayton stands 337th among Alabama's 462 places — roughly the 27th percentile. By density, at about 326 people per square mile, it ranks 177th in Alabama. By land area, its 6.8 square miles rank 204th of 462 places in Alabama.

Where Clayton sits

The Census Gazetteer records about 6.8 square miles of land within Clayton, with no significant water area listed. That land carries about 326 people per square mile. The state's population centre of gravity, Huntsville, is roughly 207 miles away. A 50-mile radius around Clayton takes in 22 places that are larger. The 100-mile radius contains 68 larger places.

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Common questions

What are my options in Clayton if my credit is poor?

Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Clayton is the same as anywhere in Alabama.

What loan size can I expect in Clayton?

Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.

Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Clayton?

For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.

Does comparing loans in Clayton cost me credit score points?

Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

Louisville, AL — population 390
Bakerhill, AL — population 209
Midway, AL — population 404
Blue Springs, AL — population 79
Clio, AL — population 1,200
Eufaula, AL — population 12,451
Hurtsboro, AL — population 340
Union Springs, AL — population 3,154