Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Manchester, New Hampshire
State New Hampshire
City Manchester*
County1 Hillsborough*
City Population (2005)2 109,308 8.6% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 64 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Concord
State Population (2005)2 1,272,486
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Frank C. Guinta
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.manchesternh.gov/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 603-624-6500
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Republican
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 6, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name John Lynch
State/Governor Website http://www.state.nh.us/
State/Governor Contact Information 603-271-2121
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) 1.21    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 14.4%    
     Disability Status 21.8% 64  
     Emphysema 1.20% 45  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.53% 46  
     Diabetes 5.18% 48  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.52% 56  
     Adult Asthma 10.53% 72  
     Adult Obesity 19.0%   13
     People Without Health Insurance 10.5%   5
     Age: Children under 5 years 6.7% 17  
     Age: 65 years and over 12.9% 61  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 16.0% 17  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 19.3% 27  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 32.0% 55  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 5.8% 8  
     Individuals Below Poverty 10.6% 8  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 14.6% 16  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 22.2% 4  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 19.6% 40  
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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) 2.3    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 20.7 (of 51) 17  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 12,934,447 pounds   16
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 12,279,337 pounds 17
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,565,688 pounds 21
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 73,956,620 pounds 14
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 83,812,664 pounds 14
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 2.1 grams 5
Number of Superfund Sites in County 6 sites 58  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.471 tons per person 46
Recycling Rate (1997) 25.0% 27
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 1,659,490 tons 12
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.3 tons/person 24
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 415,825 tons 34
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 25.1% 19
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 16.1% 10
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) -11.6% 10
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 0.4% 21
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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)    2.2***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 43,900 tons   13
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 6,800 tons   6
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 5,557,000 tons   5
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 140.0 pounds   8
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 6.2 days 32  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.5 PM2.5 19  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 4.7 days 31  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.8 PM2.5 25  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 10.3 PM2.5 18  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.012 ppm 10  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 20 ug/m3 6  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.004 ppm 27  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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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 Good ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade Good ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade Good ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Merrimack ---  
# of Units in Watershed 227 units 7  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 227 units 6  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 227 units 62  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 100.0% 56  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 36.37 inches 34  
Water Area Total, square miles 314 square miles 67  
Water Area Inland, square miles 314 square miles 65  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Concord ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 57 years 27  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 126 days 13  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Concord ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 57 years 24  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 64.0 inches 4  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 1,320,000,000 gallons/day 65  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 388,000,000 gallons/day 65  
Ground water, gallons/day 81,000,000 gallons/day 68  
Surface water, gallons/day 1,240,000,000 gallons/day 62  
Irrigation, gallons/day 6,300,000,000 gallons/day 68  
Public Supply, gallons/day 130,000,000 gallons/day 64  
Industrial, gallons/day 50,000,000 gallons/day 64  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 1,110,000,000 gallons/day 48  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 35,000,000 gallons/day 68  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Manchester Water Works ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 128,000 people 64  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 16 contaminants 34  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 5 contaminants 52  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 5 contaminants 42  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 32  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 10 contaminants 41  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 43  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 5 contaminants 17  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 39  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 5 contaminants 18  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 33  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 16 contaminants 34  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 5 contaminants 52  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 16 contaminants 60  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 14 contaminants 60  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 2 contaminants 58  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
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)    2.7***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 3,241.4 people per square mile 36  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,390.2 housing units per square mile 37  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 21.3 minutes 23  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 21.3 minutes 30  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 11.9% 51  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 1.4% 58  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 3.1% 39  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.2% 57  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 104.2 38  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 90.0 MV registrations   39
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 62.6%   41
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 51.6 MV registrations   40
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.18 MV registrations   28
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 15,630 miles   7
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.396%   26
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 19.4%   27
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   16
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 13.65 miles   15
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $453,000,000   7
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $28,983 per mile   32
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 38.1%   9
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $40,774 27  
Median Household Income (2000) $40,774 17  
Per capita income (2004) $21,244 43  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $21,244 32  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 7.7% 9  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 10.6% 11  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 10.6% 8  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 5.4% 46  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 14.6% 16  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 3,733 people 5  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.2% 13  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 5.8% 8  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 2.6% 2  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 3.0% 1  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 38.6% 61  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 48.3% 65  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 18,196 kids (1.4% of total pop.) 64  
Largest School District Enrollment 17,407 kids (1.4% of total pop.) 65  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 22.2% 4  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 68.0% 15  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 80.7% 45  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 22.3% 58  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 16% 17  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade C   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 44,247 units 64  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 54.0% 15  
Cost of Living: Housing 114.4 44  
Cost of Living: Utilities 133.1 65  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 106.2 56  
Cost of Living: Overall 110.9 45  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 70.95%   4
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 48.90%   8
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 68.50%   12
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 31.6%   20
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 3,744.4 incidents per 100,000 people 7  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 334.0 incidents per 100,000 people 8  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 3,410.4 incidents per 100,000 people 9  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 3,393.6 incidents per 100,000 people 6  
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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)    4.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 25.7% 11  
Total City Urbanized Area % 60.1% 43  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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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) 2.7    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.52% 56
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 10.53% 72
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.13% 42
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.20% 45
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.53% 46
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.18% 48  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 19.0% 13
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 8.6% 24
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) 9.0% 10
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 5.0% 4
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 199.2 30
Cost of Living: Health 112.0 46  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 10.5% 6
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 10.5% 5
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.0% 24
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.0% 24
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 31 farms 5
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 17 markets 19
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 1 grocery store 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 5 other sources 14
Cost of Living: Food 102.8 36
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 65.6% 26
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 43.0% 43
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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)    3.2***    
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 2 programs   6
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 25 kW   21
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 25 kW   28
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   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs None   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with 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) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 10.1%   13
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 54 years 18
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 55% 37
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 6.7 mph 57
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.3 mph 52
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 5.7 mph 58
Heating Degree Days 7,554 days 54
Cooling Degree Days 328 days 6
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 33 years 50
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 81% 33
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 54% 15
Elevation, feet 262 feet 28
 
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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)2 109,308 64 (of 72 in EDN study) 8.6% of state population
City Population (2000) 107,006 65 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 1,272,486 41 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region New England ---  
EPA Region 1 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 33.0 square miles 64 0.4% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 8,969 square miles 44  
Watershed Name Merrimack ---  
Elevation, feet 262 ft. (79.7 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 18.0°F (-7.8°C) 67
Average Daily Temperature - July 69.0°F (20.6°C) 8  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 34.9 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 76.3% 17  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 12.9% 12  
Under 5 years of age 7,162 kids (6.7% of total pop.) 64  
One Race-White % (2005) 91.3% 6  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 8.7% 66  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 6.1% 50  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 19.6% 33  
Largest School District Name Manchester School District ---  
 
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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