Personal loans in Dothan, AL

A personal loan in Dothan is priced from your credit file and income, not from the fact that the city holds 71,258 people. The Census estimates 71,258 residents in Dothan, which ranks it 8th of 462 places in Alabama.

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

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Dothan added about 0.3% to its population between the 2020 base and the 2023 estimate. Rate ceilings, licensing requirements and product limits for Dothan are all set at the Alabama level. Get pre-qualified with several lenders, then compare APR rather than the headline rate for a Dothan loan. The next larger city is Tallahassee, FL about 87 miles away.

Dothan: population, trend and location

Here is the sourced Census picture for Dothan, plus the Alabama lending rules that apply to a loan taken out here.

Population: a Census-estimated 71,258, 8th among Alabama's 462 places (Vintage 2023).
Population trend: Higher by roughly 0.3% since the 2020 count.
Net change: roughly 210 more people than the 2020 Census counted.
Size percentile: about 98% of Alabama's Census places are smaller than Dothan.
Population density: about 790 people per square mile across 90.2 square miles of land (Census Gazetteer area, Vintage 2023 population).
By land area: Dothan ranks 5th among Alabama's 462 places, at 90.2 sq mi.
Water area rank: Dothan ranks 45th among Alabama's 462 places, with 0.33 sq mi.
Share of state population: Dothan's 71,258 residents are about 2.3% of Alabama.
National rank: Dothan is 522nd of 19,457 places nationwide.
Growth rank: Dothan's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 233rd of 462 places in Alabama.
Against the state trend: Dothan's 0.3% change compares with a Alabama average of +1.0% across its 462 places.
Density rank: Dothan is the 57th most densely settled place in Alabama.
Against the state median: Dothan runs about 790 residents per square mile, where the Alabama median is 259.
Location: 31.2337 / -85.4068, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
Nearest larger cities: Tallahassee (87 mi); Montgomery (92 mi); Columbus (94 mi); Auburn (95 mi). A branch is convenient; it is not what sets your APR.
Nearest smaller places: Grimes (5 mi); Cowarts (6 mi); Kinsey (6 mi).
Smaller places within 50 miles: 77 of them.
Within 100 miles: 4 places are larger than Dothan.

How lenders reach Dothan

At roughly 790 people per square mile, Dothan is moderately settled; 0 larger places lie within 50 miles. Lenders licensed in Alabama reach Dothan's 71,258 residents online, so the nearest branch is not what sets your APR. For a larger market, the closest option is Tallahassee, FL about 87 miles away.

Dothan on the map

Dothan's land area is about 90.2 square miles; a further 0.33 square miles is water. Spread across it are roughly 790 residents per square mile. The state's population centre of gravity, Huntsville, is roughly 250 miles away. Within 50 miles of Dothan there are 0 larger Census places. By land area it ranks 5th of 462 Alabama places.

Dothan against the rest of Alabama

Dothan is the 8th-largest of 462 Census places in Alabama and contains about 2.3% of the state's people. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Dothan ranks 233rd of 462 in Alabama (about the 50th percentile). Its roughly 790 residents per square mile place it 57th among Alabama's places. Between 2020 and 2023 the count changed by roughly 210 residents.

A practical checklist for Dothan borrowers

Before you hand your details to a lender in Dothan, where the population is near 71,258:

Pull your credit reports first and correct any error before a lender sees the file.
Run the numbers on the personal loan calculator so you know the payment before you apply.
Get several pre-qualifications and compare APR side by side before choosing.
Confirm the Alabama licence with the regulator named above before committing.
Borrow only what the purpose requires, not the maximum you are offered.
Be clear on what the loan is for and how it gets repaid.
If the balances are already a strain, seek nonprofit credit counselling before adding a loan.

None of these steps is Dothan-specific: the same Alabama licensing and disclosure rules reach all 71,258 residents.

Alabama rules behind a Dothan personal loan

Alabama has no separate rate rule for Dothan; the sourced rows below are what reach every lender that serves its 71,258 people.

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

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Common questions

What are my options in Dothan 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 Dothan is the same as anywhere in Alabama.

What loan size can I expect in Dothan?

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 Dothan?

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 Dothan 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

Grimes, AL — population 585
Napier Field, AL — population 415
Taylor, AL — population 2,309
Kinsey, AL — population 2,263
Cowarts, AL — population 2,000
Rehobeth, AL — population 2,013
Midland City, AL — population 2,296
Webb, AL — population 1,312