Anderson, NJ
Anderson wildfire risk explained
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Anderson at the 36th national percentile for risk to structures, close to the middle of USFS's national wildfire-risk range — a score built from 185 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Anderson's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 35th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
66% of Anderson's 185 buildings sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone, roughly 122 structures close enough to burnable vegetation for flame contact, not just embers — 34.1% fall in the Indirect, ember-only zone and 0% are Minimal.
Anderson against the rest of the country
Anderson's risk sits at a similar level relative to New Jersey (36th percentile statewide) as it does nationally (36th) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Anderson ranks 20,204 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 25,425 by building count (1 is largest). Within New Jersey alone, it ranks 451 of 700 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for New Jersey on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
Anderson's moderate rating (36th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Anderson (66%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Anderson's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 185 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Anderson. The exposure-zones guide covers what Anderson's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.