Personal loans in Turtle Lake, ND

The roughly 537 people who live in Turtle Lake borrow under North Dakota rules; city hall sets no personal-loan rate. The Census estimates 537 residents in Turtle Lake, which ranks it 89th of 355 places in North Dakota. A 2020-to-2023 comparison shows Turtle Lake down by about 0.9%. State law, rather than federal rules alone, supplies the rate caps and licensing rules that reach Turtle Lake's 537 residents. Work out your debt-to-income ratio first; lenders weigh it heavily, and Turtle Lake's 537 residents are no exception. The next larger city is Underwood, ND about 13 miles away.

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

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Borrowing in Turtle Lake: the local picture

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

Population: 537 — Turtle Lake ranks 89th of 355 communities in North Dakota (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
Population trend: Roughly 0.9% fewer residents than the 2020 Census counted.
Absolute change: 5 residents lost between 2020 and 2023.
Size percentile: roughly 75% of North Dakota's places have fewer residents than Turtle Lake's 537.
Land and density: 0.5 square miles of land carry roughly 1,049 residents per square mile.
Land area rank: Turtle Lake's 0.5 square miles rank 187th of 355 places in North Dakota.
Water: Turtle Lake holds about 0.02 square miles, the 45th-largest water area in North Dakota.
State population share: Turtle Lake accounts for about 0.1% of everyone in North Dakota.
National rank: Turtle Lake is the 12,880th most populous of the 19,457 Census places covered here.
Growth rank: Turtle Lake's 2020-to-2023 change ranks 114th of 355 places in North Dakota.
Against the state trend: Turtle Lake's 0.9% change compares with a North Dakota average of -1.2% across its 355 places.
Density in North Dakota: Turtle Lake ranks 47th by people per square mile.
Against the state median: Turtle Lake runs about 1,049 residents per square mile, where the North Dakota median is 352.
Location: 47.5215 / -100.8908, per the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
Nearest larger cities: Underwood (13 mi); Washburn (17 mi); Wilton (26 mi); Garrison (26 mi); Center (34 mi). Larger metros often have more branches, but online lenders reach Turtle Lake on the same terms.
Nearest smaller places: Mercer (9 mi); Coleharbor (15 mi); McClusky (21 mi).
Smaller places within 50 miles: 26 of them.
Larger places within 100 miles: 34.

Getting a loan in Turtle Lake

With about 1,049 residents per square mile, Turtle Lake is moderately settled, and 11 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. Distance to a branch rarely matters for Turtle Lake's 537 residents: the application is online and the price follows your credit file. The nearest bigger place is Underwood, ND about 13 miles away.

How Turtle Lake compares across North Dakota

Within North Dakota, Turtle Lake holds roughly 0.1% of all residents, the 89th-largest share among 355 places. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Turtle Lake ranks 114th of 355 in North Dakota (about the 68th percentile). At about 1,049 people per square mile, Turtle Lake is the 47th most densely settled place in North Dakota. By land area, its 0.5 square miles rank 187th of 355 places in North Dakota.

Steps to take before a Turtle Lake loan

Complete these steps first when you borrow in Turtle Lake (537 residents):

Check all three credit reports for mistakes, because an error you fix now is a lower rate later.
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.
Verify the lender's North Dakota licence with the regulator listed on this page.
If the balances are already a strain, seek nonprofit credit counselling before adding a loan.
Read the disclosure for an origination fee and any prepayment penalty before signing.
Check that the monthly payment fits your budget next to your existing obligations.

None of these steps is Turtle Lake-specific: the same North Dakota licensing and disclosure rules reach all 537 residents.

Turtle Lake: area, density and distance

Turtle Lake covers about 0.5 square miles of land, with 0.02 square miles of water inside its boundaries (Census Gazetteer). Spread across it are roughly 1,049 residents per square mile. Fargo, the largest place in North Dakota, is about 196 miles from Turtle Lake. Counting outward 50 miles, 11 larger communities surround Turtle Lake. The 100-mile radius contains 34 larger places.

North Dakota consumer-lending rules applied in Turtle Lake

Every row below records a North Dakota rule, its publisher and its retrieval date — the same rules a Turtle Lake lender must follow.

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
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
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Money broker license required to engage in money brokering (arranging/providing loans); issued by the commissioner of financial institutions. Source says: "may not engage in money brokering in the state of North Dakota without a money broker license issued by the commissioner" (N.D.C.C. 13-04.1-02).	North Dakota Legislative Branch as of 2026-09-16

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Common questions

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

What loan size can I expect in Turtle Lake?

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 Turtle Lake?

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 Turtle Lake 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

Mercer, ND — population 125
Underwood, ND — population 774
Washburn, ND — population 1,283
Ruso, ND — population 5
Coleharbor, ND — population 65
Benedict, ND — population 66
Wilton, ND — population 714
Butte, ND — population 68