This is the town and county split which experts will attempt to fix when they decide if Northamptonshire goes into the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions.
The rolling rate of new positive tests is one of the key factors taken into account if restrictions are toughened in all or part of the county.
Yet Government data shows how the numbers vary wildly with Northampton suffering most while towns and villages to the north and south are well below the national and regional average.
Number crunchers establish areas of roughly equal population — around 7,200 — to make comparisons then establish a seven-day rolling rate of positive tests by calculating a figure assuming each area had 100,000 people living there.
Across England that figure was 184 positive tests per 100,000 according to the latest figures compiled in the week to December 10.
In the East Midlands it was 179.4 and 144.8 in Northamptonshire.
Three areas of the county — around Corby and Kettering — fewer than three cases so failed to even register on the Government's interactive map while others in Towcester and Daventry have rates under 50.
Yet, the equivalent number in the borough of Northampton was 211.5 — and as high as 450 in one area of the town.
Public Health Director Lucy Wightman admits it is possible Northampton could be separated from the rest of the county when the Government reveals the new tiers arrangement tomorrow (Thursday).
Mrs Wightman admitted: "If further restrictions do need to be applied, I'm hoping we can do it in the areas that need it most rather than having a whole-of-county approach.
"We have seen other areas start to be split up, so I'm sure they are considering what will be most appropriate.
"They are trying to understand human geography, so if you see a lot of commuting to and from different areas they may choose to apply restrictions to a whole county because they won't see how you could be able to control rates in different areas."
If your area is not listed here, you can check it out at https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map
1.
Kingsley Park & Racecourse — 27 cases in seven days to December 10 — up by 10 from previous week (58.8%) — rolling rate 455.8
2.
Ringstead, Woodford & Stanwick — 29 new cases in seven days to December 10 — up by 23 from previous week (383.3%) — rolling rate 437.3
3.
Abington Vale — 22 new cases in seven days to December 10 — up by six from previous week (37.5%) — rolling rate 382.8
4.
Blackthorn & Lings — 20 new cases in seven days to December 10 — up by 13 from previous week (185.7%) — rolling rate 332.2