Matoaca, VA
Matoaca, VA's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
Out of every US place USFS scores, Matoaca lands at the 41st percentile for wildfire risk to structures — modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a figure built from its 1,533 buildings, not the land around them. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Matoaca's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 42nd percentile nationally.
Matoaca's building exposure, zone by zone
1,533 buildings are counted in Matoaca, and 67.3% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 0% rated Minimal.
Where Matoaca ranks
Matoaca's risk sits at a similar level relative to Virginia (36th percentile statewide) as it does nationally (41st) — this place isn't unusual for its own state either way. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Matoaca ranks 18,484 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 9,023 by building count (1 is largest). Within Virginia alone, it ranks 434 of 681 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Virginia on its state page.
Matoaca and the insurance market
Matoaca's elevated wildfire rating (41st percentile) isn't the kind of score driving the carrier pullback making news in the highest-risk Western markets — but a standard homeowners quote is still worth comparing on its own terms.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Because Direct exposure dominates in Matoaca (67.3%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Matoaca's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 1,533 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Matoaca. The exposure-zones guide covers what Matoaca's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.