Clifton, SC
Clifton wildfire risk explained
Out of every US place USFS scores, Clifton lands at the 61st percentile for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 315 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks Clifton at the 64th national percentile — 3 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
Clifton's building exposure, zone by zone
Direct exposure dominates in Clifton: 88.6% of its 315 buildings, versus 11.4% Indirect and 0% Minimal. Clearing space around a structure changes the outcome here more than any single building-material swap.
Clifton against the rest of the country
Clifton ranks lower within South Carolina (22nd percentile statewide) than its 61st national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Clifton ranks 12,272 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 21,241 by building count (1 is largest). Within South Carolina alone, it ranks 370 of 474 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for South Carolina on its state page.
Clifton and the insurance market
At the 61st percentile nationally, Clifton carries the high rating that has pushed some carriers to limit new business in similarly-scored places elsewhere in the country. Worth comparing quotes rather than assuming last year's renewal terms still apply.
Hardening a home in Clifton
Clifton's 88.6% Direct-exposure share means lot clearing around the structure typically outweighs any single material upgrade here. The home-hardening guide ranks the options for a place shaped like this.
Where Clifton's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 315 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Clifton. The exposure-zones guide covers what Clifton's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.