10 High-Fire-Risk Areas Where More People Are Moving In Than Out

Would you move to a natural disaster-prone area if it meant that you could save money or be closer to family?

While it may seem like a hazardous choice, the data shows that people put less importance on fire risk than other quality-of-life factors. In 2023, more people moved to high-fire-risk areas than those who moved out, according to Redfin.

Where are these high-fire-risk areas, and why are people moving there? Keep reading to find out the country’s top fire-prone destinations and what you can do to prepare before making a similar move yourself .

Check Out: 3 Best States To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years, According to Experts

Read More: How To Get Rich in Real Estate Starting With Just $1,000

Money mistakes the super wealthy never make - that you might be doing now.

What Is a High-Fire-Risk Area?

The information in this article is based on Redfin’s analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau and First Street, a climate risk data provider. A high-risk county is defined as a place where 62.4% to 98.9% of homes face a high fire risk.

Why Are People Moving to High-Fire-Risk Areas?

In 2023, 34,170 people moved out of high-fire-risk U.S. counties. But the same year, 97,535 people moved in. In total, there was a net inflow of 63,365 people to counties with high fire risks.

The reasoning? Most people simply don’t consider the risk of natural disasters a good enough reason to avoid moving to a location that offers other advantages. Only 8.8% of surveyed people who plan to move soon said concern for natural disasters or climate risk was a reason to move.

Watch Out: 5 Types of Homes That Will Plummet in Value in 2024

Here’s what people did say was a reason for their move:

• More space (32.4%)
• Lower cost of living (26.4%)
• Closer to family (16.4%)

But all these potential benefits come at a cost. Places that are prone to natural disasters tend to have much higher housing insurance costs than in less risky states.

For example, Texas counties feature 5 out of 10 times on this list. Since Texas has more wildfires than any other state except California, homeowners insurance comes at a higher premium. In fact, Texas saw the biggest increase (23.3%) in insurance rates in 2023.

California and Colorado are known for being extremely prone to wildfires, which moves them near the top of the list when it comes to insurance rates.

While these drawbacks are causing some people to leave high-risk counties in search of safer pastures, an even larger group of people who are ready to brave the consequences are replacing them.

Top 10 High-Fire-Risk Counties

Some counties with a high fire risk aren’t included in this list because they’re places where people are leaving in greater numbers than people coming in. The counties listed below all have a net inflow of people, which means that more people moved into the county than moved out.

1. Riverside County, California

• Net inflow 2023: 7,807
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 78.5%

Riverside County in Southern California is the fourth-most populous county in the state. It’s also a popular housing market, with homes going for a median price of $612,000 despite the high fire risk.

2. Parker County, Texas

• Net inflow 2023: 6,960
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 78%

Homes in this county sell for a median price of $479,158, but buyers should be aware that First Street considers residential properties here as having a severe risk of wildfire.

3. Weld County, Colorado

• Net inflow 2023: 6,254
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 63.8%

Located north of Denver, Weld County has a median housing sale price of $499,900. While the share of homes facing high fire risk isn’t as high as some other counties on this list, the majority of homes are still vulnerable.

4. Douglas County, Colorado

• Net inflow 2023: 5,465
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 93.7%

Over 9 of 10 houses in Douglas County have a major risk of wildfire, but that doesn’t stop them for selling at well above the national median. Houses in this county go for a median price of $720,000.

5. Hunt County, Texas

• Net inflow 2023: 4,530
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 71.4%

Hunt County is seeing a net inflow of people, but its housing market is on a slight downward trend. Home prices were down 3.1% compared to last year and sell for a median price of $293,242.

6. Pima County, Arizona

• Net inflow 2023: 3,823
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 72.5%

Pima County, home to Tucson, is heavily populated, with over a million people. Houses here are affordable, selling at a median price of $371,150.

7. Grayson County, Texas

• Net inflow 2023: 3,441
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 66.5%

Grayson County is located just north of Dallas and has seen steady population growth, increasing by more than 18% since 2010. The majority of homes in this county face high fire risk. The median sales price is $336,114.

8. Wise County, Texas

• Net inflow 2023: 3,008
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 68.3%

Wise County, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, had a net inflow of people last year despite the high share of homes facing high fire risk. Houses in this county sell for a median price of $427,712.

9. Midland County, Texas

• Net inflow 2023: 2,584
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 77.1%

Even though 3 out of 4 homes in Midland have a high fire risk, the county has a growing housing market. Home prices were up 11.3.% last year, with the median sale price standing at $400,395.

10. Larimer County, Colorado

• Net inflow 2023: 2,249
• Share of homes facing high fire risk: 66.2%

First Street classifies Larimer County as having a severe risk of wildfire — the second-highest classification level. In spite of this, the housing market is healthy, with a positive net inflow and houses selling for a median price of $570,000.

What Should You Do To Prepare for Moving to a High-Fire-Risk Area?

If you decide to move to a high-fire-risk area, there are certain things you can do that will help minimize the risk that your home will be damaged or destroyed in a fire. Start by learning about the different home ignition zones developed by a retired USDA Forest Service scientist in the ’90s. Various actions can be taken to reduce the threat of fire in these zones, including:

• Keeping roofs and gutters clear of debris
• Moving flammable material and vegetation away from wall exteriors
• Creating fuel breaks with driveways, walkways and patios
• Removing dead plants and branches
• Landscaping your property according to fire prevention techniques, such as spacing trees to interrupt fire paths

By taking proper precautions, you can make living in a fire-prone area safer for you and your family.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 10 High-Fire-Risk Areas Where More People Are Moving In Than Out