Personal loans in Grafton, ND

Grafton lost roughly 2.7% of its population across the 2020-to-2023 comparison. Grafton is a small community of about 4,059 residents, and a personal loan taken out here is governed by North Dakota statute. The Census counts 4,059 people in Grafton, the 16th-largest figure among North Dakota's 355 places. For a bigger market, look to Grand Forks, ND about 37 miles away. For the 4,059 people in Grafton, North Dakota runs its own consumer-lending licensing, and the sourced table below lists the figures that apply. If debt is already a strain, a nonprofit credit counsellor can help Grafton residents before they take on more.

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

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Where Grafton stands

The figures below are Grafton's own — Census population, land area and coordinates — followed by the North Dakota rules.

Population: about 4,059, ranked 16th of 355 places in North Dakota (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
Population trend: The 2020-to-2023 change is negative, near 2.7%.
Change in people: the 2020-to-2023 comparison is a loss of about 112 residents.
Size percentile: about 95% of North Dakota's Census places are smaller than Grafton.
Population density: 1,229 people per square mile on 3.3 square miles of land.
Land area: Grafton covers 3.3 square miles, the 25th-largest area among North Dakota's 355 places.
Water area: Grafton has 0.26 square miles of water, ranking 7th of 355 places in North Dakota.
State population share: Grafton accounts for about 0.7% of everyone in North Dakota.
National rank: Grafton is 5,414th of 19,457 places nationwide.
Growth rank: Grafton's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 236th of 355 places in North Dakota.
State comparison: North Dakota's places average -1.2% for 2020-to-2023, against Grafton's 2.7%.
Density rank: Grafton places 31st among North Dakota's places by people per square mile.
Against the state median: Grafton runs about 1,229 residents per square mile, where the North Dakota median is 352.
Location: mapped by the US Census Bureau at 48.4139, -97.4062.
Nearest larger cities: Grand Forks (37 mi); East Grand Forks (38 mi); Crookston (58 mi); Thief River Falls (60 mi); Devils Lake (71 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Grafton whether or not they keep a local branch.
Smaller communities within reach: Minto (9 mi); Hoople (14 mi); Forest River (14 mi).
Smaller neighbours: 56 places smaller than Grafton sit within 50 miles.
Within 100 miles: 5 places are larger than Grafton.

What is available to Grafton borrowers

At roughly 1,229 people per square mile, Grafton is moderately settled; 2 larger places lie within 50 miles. What is available to Grafton's 4,059 borrowers is set by North Dakota licensing and your own credit, not by how many branches are nearby. The nearest bigger place is Grand Forks, ND about 37 miles away.

Grafton's place among North Dakota's 355 places

Among North Dakota's 355 places, Grafton sits at 16th for population, a share of roughly 0.7% of the state. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Grafton ranks 236th of 355 in North Dakota (about the 34th percentile). At about 1,229 people per square mile, Grafton is the 31st most densely settled place in North Dakota. By land area, its 3.3 square miles rank 25th of 355 places in North Dakota.

Steps to take before a Grafton loan

Complete these steps first when you borrow in Grafton (4,059 residents):

Get all three reports, dispute anything wrong, and keep the corrected file for your applications.
Use the loan calculator to test the payment on your intended amount and term.
Collect three or more offers and compare them on APR, not on the advertised rate.
Confirm the North Dakota licence with the regulator named above before committing.
Pick the shortest term whose payment you can comfortably afford.
Do not borrow more than the expense calls for, even if a lender approves a larger amount.
Decide the purpose and how you will repay it before approaching any lender.

None of these steps is Grafton-specific: the same North Dakota licensing and disclosure rules reach all 4,059 residents.

The anatomy of a Grafton personal loan

A Grafton personal loan is an installment loan: a lump sum, then fixed monthly payments over a set term, priced off your credit rather than its 4,059 residents. The rate you see advertised is a range, not a promise, until a lender reviews your file in Grafton. The term you choose in Grafton decides the split between a comfortable payment and the total interest you pay.

Which North Dakota laws govern a loan in Grafton

Read the table as a lender's compliance picture for Grafton: the rule, the sourced figure, the publisher and the date.

Rule	Detail	Source
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
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

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Common questions

What are my options in Grafton 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 Grafton is the same as anywhere in North Dakota.

What loan size can I expect in Grafton?

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 Grafton?

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 Grafton 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

Minto, ND — population 609
Forest River, ND — population 111
St. Thomas, ND — population 312
Ardoch, ND — population 33
Hoople, ND — population 244
Drayton, ND — population 735
Crystal, ND — population 111
Pisek, ND — population 87