New Hope, MS
New Hope, MS's wildfire risk, in USFS's own numbers
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts New Hope at the 56th national percentile for risk to structures, modestly above the national average for wildfire risk — a score built from 1,640 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Fire likelihood alone (USFS's burn-probability figure) ranks New Hope at the 58th national percentile — 2 points above its risk-to-structures score, a gap driven by how much is actually built there.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
USFS classifies 62% of New Hope's buildings as Direct exposure, higher than its 38.1% Indirect share and far above its 0% Minimal share — a profile where 1,016 structures sit close enough to vegetation that lot clearing matters most.
Where New Hope ranks
New Hope ranks lower within Mississippi (25th percentile statewide) than its 56th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, New Hope ranks 13,997 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 8,619 by building count (1 is largest). Within Mississippi alone, it ranks 315 of 420 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Mississippi on its state page.
New Hope and the insurance market
At the 56th national percentile, New Hope rates elevated for wildfire risk — well short of the threshold where insurers have been withdrawing coverage, though comparing a quote costs nothing either way.
Hardening a home in New Hope
Because Direct exposure dominates in New Hope (62%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
More on how this number was built
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 1,640 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for New Hope. For more on what direct exposure implies beyond New Hope, see the exposure-zones guide.