Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Boston, Massachusetts
State Massachusetts
City Boston
County1 Suffolk*
City Population (2005)2 520,702 8.4% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 27 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 27 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density High Density
State Capitol City Boston
State Population (2005)2 6,182,860
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Thomas Menino
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.cityofboston.gov/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 617-635-4500
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 3, 2009
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Deval Patrick
State/Governor Website http://www.mass.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 617-725-400
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.32    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 17.8%    
     Disability Status 13.8% 27  
     Emphysema 1.14% 22  
     Cardiovascular Disease 22.64% 17  
     Diabetes 4.86% 24  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.52% 48  
     Adult Asthma 10.32% 70  
     Adult Obesity 16.1%   2
     People Without Health Insurance 10.7%   7
     Age: Children under 5 years 6.6% 13  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.2% 26  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 28.0% 46  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 15.0% 47  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 58.0% 13  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 9.1% 49  
     Individuals Below Poverty 19.0% 44  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 25.6% 46  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 72.0% 54  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 34.9% 55  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.1    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 19.3 (of 51) 16  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 40,078,460 pounds   27
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 46,787,412 pounds 26
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 3,146,059 pounds 26
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 186,685,579 pounds 20
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 182,055,717 pounds 20
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 11.7 grams 15
Number of Superfund Sites in County 0 sites 1  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.958 tons per person 18
Recycling Rate (1997) 33.0% 13
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 8,463,940 tons 37
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.3 tons/person 24
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 2,864,783 tons 13
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 33.8% 13
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 37.0% 2
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 35.7% 30
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 2.4% 19
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    2.7***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 90,700 tons   23
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 28,500 tons   13
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 21,486,900 tons   13
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 320.0 pounds   11
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 7.5 days 34  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 4.7 PM2.5 50  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 4.5 days 30  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 4.3 PM2.5 50  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 13.0 PM2.5 38  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 2 ppm 5  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.04 ug/m3 15  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.023 ppm 47  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.006 ppm 38  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 8 days 16  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score) 1.9    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade Poor ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade Poor ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade Good ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Charles ---  
# of Units in Watershed 381 units 3  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 316 units 2  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 245 units 63  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 77.5% 37  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 17.1% 33  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 41.51 inches 22  
Water Area Total, square miles 1,403 square miles 36  
Water Area Inland, square miles 424 square miles 53  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 979 square miles 8  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Boston ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 47 years 50  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 127 days 12  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Boston ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 61 years 11  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 42.4 inches 14  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 5,510,000,000 gallons/day 49  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 189,000,000 gallons/day 69  
Ground water, gallons/day 351,000,000 gallons/day 55  
Surface water, gallons/day 5,160,000,000 gallons/day 43  
Irrigation, gallons/day 82,000,000 gallons/day 51  
Public Supply, gallons/day 759,000,000 gallons/day 37  
Industrial, gallons/day 88,000,000 gallons/day 57  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 4,570,000,000 gallons/day 35  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 180,000,000 gallons/day 63  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Massachusetts Water Resources Authority ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 2,000,000 people 6  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 6 contaminants 5  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 10  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 5  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 5 contaminants 17  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 21  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 1 contaminant 5  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 6 contaminants 5  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 10  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 127 contaminants 25  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 102 contaminants 28  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 25 contaminants 23  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 2 violations 53  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 2 violations 60  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score) 3.0    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 12,165.8 people per square mile 4  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 5,202.5 housing units per square mile 3  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 28.8 minutes 63  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 29.0 minutes 67  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 9.2% 69  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 32.3% 3  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 14.0% 2  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.4% 49  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 115.7 63  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 88.6 MV registrations   37
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 46.1%   29
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 58.5 MV registrations   49
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.18 MV registrations   26
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 35,590 miles   13
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 1.032%   48
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 77.8%   4
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.01 miles   5
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 6.50 miles   4
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $3,547,000,000   43
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $99,663 per mile   48
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 41.8%   14
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 25.0 hours per person 34  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $424 per person 34  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $1,692,000,000 38  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 15 gallons per person 31  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $45,892 11  
Median Household Income (2000) $39,629 26  
Per capita income (2004) $30,456 5  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $23,353 13  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 16.5% 48  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 19.5% 47  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 19.0% 44  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 4.1% 38  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 25.6% 46  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 26,068 people 45  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.1% 47  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 9.1% 49  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 4.6% 44  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 7.2% 46  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 24.9% 43  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 20.9% 42  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $6.75 per hour 10  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 73,336 kids (1.2% of total pop.) 40  
Largest School District Enrollment 63,024 kids (1.0% of total pop.) 31  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 72.0% 54  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 42.0% 57  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 85.0% 25  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 40.9% 8  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 28% 46  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Ahead of the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 235,706 units 23  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 63.8% 5  
Cost of Living: Housing 195.3 63  
Cost of Living: Utilities 131.0 63  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 111.6 66  
Cost of Living: Overall 145.1 63  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 63.60%   27
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 47.70%   14
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 63.60%   19
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 25.9%   41
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 5,864.1 incidents per 100,000 people 27  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,192.4 incidents per 100,000 people 51  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 4,671.7 incidents per 100,000 people 21  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 5,942.6 incidents per 100,000 people 26  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 3.4    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.0 parks per square mile 49  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 47.1 park acres per city square mile 18  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 9.3 acres 32  
Parkland as % of City Area 17.6% 4  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $58 per resident 20  
Total City Tree Canopy % 9.1% 31  
Total City Urbanized Area % 72.8% 53  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Some ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Some ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks Some ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 2.3    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.52% 48
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 10.32% 70
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.19% 54
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.14% 22
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 22.64% 17
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 4.86% 24  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 16.1% 2
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 7.3% 13
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 15%-19% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 7.0% 2
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 4.9% 3
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 200.3 32
Cost of Living: Health 129.0 61  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 11.2% 12
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 10.7% 7
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -4.5% 10
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -0.5% 15
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 23 farms 9
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 43 markets 5
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 14 restaurants 7
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 4 grocery stores 11
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 7 other sources 10
Cost of Living: Food 113.1 61
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 78.5% 44
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 48.3% 56
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score) 2.7    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) Yes ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 60 kW   12
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 60 kW   20
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds support Energy Effeciency & Renewable Energy   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 4%   19
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2009   2
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes without ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 6.5%   21
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 60 years 6
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 55% 37
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 12.4 mph 3
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 13.8 mph 3
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 11 mph 4
Heating Degree Days 5,641 days 38
Cooling Degree Days 678 days 17
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 34 years 45
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 72% 10
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 58% 31
Elevation, feet 43 feet 17
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 520,702 27 (of 72 in EDN study) 8.4% of state population
City Population (2000) 589,141 20 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 6,182,860 13 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region New England ---  
EPA Region 1 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 48.0 square miles 59 1.1% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 7,838 square miles 45  
Watershed Name Charles ---  
Elevation, feet 43 ft. (13.1 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 29.3°F (-1.5°C) 50
Average Daily Temperature - July 73.9°F (23.3°C) 24  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 33.5 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 79.4% 7  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.2% 44  
Under 5 years of age 34,315 kids (6.6% of total pop.) 36  
One Race-White % (2005) 55.3% 45  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 44.7% 28  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 14.7% 28  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 34.9% 18  
Largest School District Name Boston ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network