South Plainfield Borough, NJ

Nymphs are questing, the highest-risk stage for people. Nymphal deer ticks peak in late spring and summer. They're the size of a poppy seed, easy to miss, and cause most Lyme transmission.

South Plainfield Borough is 60% natural land cover (51% forest, plus open and brushy areas) across its 8.3 sq mi, home to about 24,131 people. That makes it the 18th-most wooded of the 25 towns in Middlesex County. Deer ticks live in wooded areas, along trail edges, and in tall grass — the more of that a town has, the more places ticks can quest.

Middlesex County reports about 45 Lyme cases per 100,000 people a year, the 190th-highest of 210 Northeast counties. That county-level disease pressure, combined with South Plainfield Borough's local habitat, sets how high its daily score can climb when the weather and season allow.

Yes. Nymphs are questing, the highest-risk stage for people. In South Plainfield Borough, today's risk reads low (30/100). Tick activity is low right now, but never zero. A quick check after time outdoors is still worth it.