Personal loans in Madison, SD
Roughly 6,091 residents live in Madison, the 17th-largest community in South Dakota. Census figures put the 2020-to-2023 decrease in Madison at about 1.6%. If you are weighing a personal loan in Madison, start from the payment you can carry; its 6,091 residents face the same statewide rules. A lender that serves Madison operates under South Dakota lending statutes and a South Dakota supervisor. Get pre-qualified with several lenders, then compare APR rather than the headline rate for a Madison loan. The nearest larger city is Brookings, SD about 26 miles away.
Madison: population, trend and location
The figures below are Madison's own — Census population, land area and coordinates — followed by the South Dakota rules.
- Population: a Census-estimated 6,091, 17th among South Dakota's 309 places (Vintage 2023).
- Population trend: Lower by roughly 1.6% since the 2020 count.
- Absolute change: 100 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
- Size percentile: Madison sits ahead of around 94% of South Dakota places, at 6,091 people.
- Population density: about 1,320 people per square mile (Census land area 4.6 sq mi).
- By land area: Madison ranks 18th among South Dakota's 309 places, at 4.6 sq mi.
- State share: roughly 0.9% of South Dakota's residents live in Madison (6,091 people).
- Nationally: Madison is the 4,324th-largest of 19,457 Census places in the dataset.
- Growth in South Dakota: Madison stands 232nd by percentage change from 2020 to 2023, among 309 places.
- Versus South Dakota: the state average change is +0.9%, while Madison moved 1.6%.
- Density rank: Madison is the 38th most densely settled place in South Dakota.
- Density vs South Dakota: Madison's 1,320 people per square mile compare with a state median of 581.
- Location: 44.0062 / -97.1085, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Brookings (26 mi); Sioux Falls (37 mi); Brandon (39 mi); Tea (41 mi); Harrisburg (44 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Madison whether or not they keep a local branch.
- Smaller places nearby: Wentworth (7 mi); Ramona (9 mi); Brant Lake (10 mi).
- Smaller neighbours: 75 places smaller than Madison sit within 50 miles.
- At 100 miles: 15 larger Census places fall inside that radius.
The South Dakota lending rules that reach Madison
When South Dakota does not publish a figure, the row links to the source instead of inventing a number; Madison is bound by the same rules.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State lending regulator | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) Source says: "The Division of Banking is charged with the regulation and supervision of state chartered and licensed financial institutions." | South Dakota Division of Banking (Department of Labor and Regulation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | No general maximum/usury restriction when the rate is set by written agreement; specific caps elsewhere in the code apply (e.g., 36% for licensed money lenders). Source says: "no maximum interest rate or charge, or usury rate restriction... if they establish the interest rate or charge by written agreement" (SDCL 54-3-1.1). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal for licensed money lenders (including payday and title lenders) but capped at 36% APR including all fees and charges; violations are a Class 1 misdemeanor and loans are void. Source says: "no licensee may contract for or receive finance charges pursuant to a loan in excess of an annual rate of thirty-six percent" (SDCL 54-4-44); "A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any loan made in violation of this section is void and uncollectible" (54-4-44). | South Dakota Legislature (South Dakota Codified Laws) as of 2026-09-16 |
What shapes a Madison personal loan
In Madison, a small town of about 6,091, the amount is advanced up front and repaid in fixed installments; the city's size does not change the pricing. The APR tracks your credit score rather than Madison's rank of 17th in South Dakota: a strong file may earn a single-digit rate, while damaged credit can push the rate far higher. A longer term lowers the monthly payment on a Madison loan but raises total interest, so the smallest payment is not the cheapest loan.
The geography behind Madison
The Census Gazetteer records about 4.6 square miles of land within Madison, with no significant water area listed. The resulting density is about 1,320 people per square mile. The state's population centre of gravity, Sioux Falls, is roughly 37 miles away. Counting outward 50 miles, 5 larger communities surround Madison. By land area it ranks 18th of 309 South Dakota places.
Madison's place among South Dakota's 309 places
Set beside South Dakota's 309 places, Madison ranks 17th by population and holds about 0.9% of the state total. Its 2020-to-2023 change ranks 232nd of 309 South Dakota places, putting it near the 25th percentile for growth. At about 1,320 people per square mile, Madison is the 38th most densely settled place in South Dakota. By land area, its 4.6 square miles rank 18th of 309 places in South Dakota.
A pre-application checklist for Madison
Complete these steps first when you borrow in Madison (6,091 residents):
- Order your free credit reports and dispute anything inaccurate — it is the cheapest way to move the rate you are offered.
- 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.
- Look the lender up in the South Dakota regulator's licence records before you sign.
- Be clear on what the loan is for and how it gets repaid.
- When debt already feels heavy, a nonprofit credit counsellor is worth a call first.
- Check the disclosure for fees that raise the true cost above the quoted rate.
None of these steps is Madison-specific: the same South Dakota licensing and disclosure rules reach all 6,091 residents.
Common questions
What are my options in Madison if my credit is poor?
What loan size can I expect in Madison?
Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Madison?
Does comparing loans in Madison cost me credit score points?
Nearby places
- Wentworth, SD — population 174
- Ramona, SD — population 163
- Nunda, SD — population 47
- Brant Lake, SD — population 56
- Sinai, SD — population 101
- Colton, SD — population 700
- Colman, SD — population 654
- Oldham, SD — population 119