Grafton, ND
Grafton wildfire risk explained
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Grafton at the 31st national percentile for risk to structures, close to the middle of USFS's national wildfire-risk range — a score built from 2,523 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Grafton's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 34th percentile nationally.
Grafton's building exposure, zone by zone
Most of Grafton's buildings (91.8% of 2,523) fall outside USFS's Direct and Indirect zones entirely — that doesn't zero out the score above, it means the risk is regional, not structure-by-structure.
Where Grafton ranks
Grafton ranks lower within North Dakota (13th percentile statewide) than its 31st national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Grafton ranks 21,657 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 6,262 by building count (1 is largest). Within North Dakota alone, it ranks 349 of 402 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for North Dakota on its state page.
Grafton and the insurance market
Grafton's moderate rating (31st percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
What would actually reduce this score
Even with 91.8% of Grafton outside USFS's Direct and Indirect zones, basic hardening — gutter maintenance, ember-resistant vents — is inexpensive relative to the regional burn-probability risk noted above. Details in the home-hardening guide.
Where Grafton's figures come from
Every one of the two percentiles behind Grafton's 21,657-place national rank traces to USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities dataset — see the methodology guide. The exposure-zones guide covers what Grafton's dominant minimal exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.