Benson, NC
How exposed is Benson to wildfire?
Out of every US place USFS scores, Benson lands at the 51st percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 1,972 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Benson's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 51st percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
56% of Benson's 1,972 buildings fall in USFS's Indirect exposure zone — ember cast rather than direct flame — against 32.6% Direct and 11.4% Minimal. Vent screens and roofing material matter more here than lot clearing alone.
How Benson compares
Benson's risk sits at a similar level relative to North Carolina (42nd percentile statewide) as it does nationally (51st) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Benson ranks 15,322 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 7,555 by building count (1 is largest). Within North Carolina alone, it ranks 451 of 772 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for North Carolina on its state page.
What this risk score means for insurance
At the 51st national percentile, Benson rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
With ember exposure the dominant pattern in Benson (56% Indirect), vent screens and roofing material tend to matter more than lot clearing alone. The home-hardening guide covers both.
Where Benson's figures come from
Benson's 51st-percentile score and its burn-probability figure both come from the same USFS workbook, documented in the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Benson's dominant indirect exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.