Pontotoc, MS
How exposed is Pontotoc to wildfire?
Pontotoc sits at the 67th percentile nationally for wildfire risk to structures — well above the national norm for wildfire risk — per USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model, built from its 3,217 counted buildings, not vegetation cover alone. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Pontotoc's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 70th percentile nationally.
Where Pontotoc's buildings actually sit
3,217 buildings are counted in Pontotoc, and 58.1% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 0.8% rated Minimal.
Pontotoc against the rest of the country
Pontotoc ranks lower within Mississippi (49th percentile statewide) than its 67th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Pontotoc ranks 10,335 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 5,149 by building count (1 is largest). Within Mississippi alone, it ranks 215 of 420 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for Mississippi on its state page.
Pontotoc and the insurance market
At the 67th percentile nationally, Pontotoc 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.
Lowering exposure, not just insuring around it
Pontotoc's 58.1% 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 Pontotoc's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 3,217 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Pontotoc. The exposure-zones guide covers what Pontotoc's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.