Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Tucson, Arizona
State Arizona
City Tucson
County1 Pima
City Population (2005)2 507,362 8.7 % of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 31 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 31 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 2
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Phoenix
State Population (2005)2 5,829,839
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Bob Walkup
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/mayor.html
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 520-791-4201
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 Janet Napolitano
State/Governor Website http://az.gov/webapp/portal/
State/Governor Contact Information 602-542-4331
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
«Back to Map     Top↑
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) 1.25    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 15.8%    
     Disability Status 14.8% 32  
     Emphysema 1.34% 65  
     Cardiovascular Disease 26.00% 62  
     Diabetes 5.53% 62  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.50% 33  
     Adult Asthma 7.43% 16  
     Adult Obesity 17.9%   7
     People Without Health Insurance 18.7%   46
     Age: Children under 5 years 8.1% 54  
     Age: 65 years and over 11.5% 49  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 19.0% 28  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 17.9% 32  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 29.4% 61  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 7.4% 27  
     Individuals Below Poverty 19.5% 46  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 23.6% 40  
     Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 32.7% 51  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(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 18.3 (of 51) 15  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 9,122,180 pounds   14
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 7,160,688 pounds 13
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,480,767 pounds 18
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 86,514,430 pounds 15
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 103,859,048 pounds 15
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 14.2 grams 17
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.026 tons per person 26
Recycling Rate (1997) 18.0% 38
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 5,195,300 tons 26
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 0.9 tons/person 2
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 1,025,591 tons 24
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 19.7% 27
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) -12.3% 9
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 9.4% 12
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    1.7***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 70,700 tons   19
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 84,200 tons   30
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 51,489,900 tons   33
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 1,800 pounds   29
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 0.7 days 10  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.0 PM2.5 1  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 6.8 PM2.5 5  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 0.7 days 11  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.0 PM2.5 1  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 6.2 PM2.5 3  
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) 0.017 ppm 23  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 40 ug/m3 52  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.001 ppm 2  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 1 day 3  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(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)    2.2***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Upper Santa Cruz ---  
# of Units in Watershed 57 units 31  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 15 units 44  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 11 units 22  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 73.3% 34  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 73.7% 59  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 12.00 inches 64  
Water Area Total, square miles 364 square miles 64  
Water Area Inland, square miles 364 square miles 61  
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 (Not Available) ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station (Not Available) ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 6,830,000,000 gallons/day 43  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,620,000,000 gallons/day 20  
Ground water, gallons/day 2,840,000,000 gallons/day 21  
Surface water, gallons/day 3,990,000,000 gallons/day 50  
Irrigation, gallons/day 5,670,000,000 gallons/day 25  
Public Supply, gallons/day 846,000,000 gallons/day 31  
Industrial, gallons/day 197,000,000 gallons/day 47  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 62,000,000,000 gallons/day 61  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 3,830,000,000 gallons/day 21  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Tucson Municipal Water Dept. ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 668,000 people 25  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 27 contaminants 54  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 15  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 8 contaminants 60  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 6 contaminants 48  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 49  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 16 contaminants 52  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 43  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 7 contaminants 44  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 9 contaminants 44  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 48  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 27 contaminants 54  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 15  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 114 contaminants 35  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 99 contaminants 35  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 15 contaminants 37  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(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)    3.1***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,500.1 people per square mile 49  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,076.7 housing units per square mile 49  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 21.6 minutes 24  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 20.8 minutes 26  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 15.7% 17  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 3.5% 43  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 3.4% 35  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.9% 28  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 105.7 44  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 61.3 MV registrations   5
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 86.4%   46
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 34.2 MV registrations   4
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.94 MV registrations   4
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 57,529 miles   18
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.115%   5
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 38.1%   10
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   14
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 16.10 miles   20
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $2,453,000,000   39
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $42,639 per mile   37
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 104.6%   48
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 19.0 hours per person 23  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $324 per person 23  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $233,000,000 12  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 12 gallons per person 26  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $31,901 59  
Median Household Income (2000) $37,344 38  
Per capita income (2004) $17,612 63  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $16,322 62  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 15.7% 44  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 18.4% 43  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 19.5% 46  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.8% 30  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 23.6% 40  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 18,860 people 35  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.8% 25  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 7.4% 27  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.6% 21  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.9% 33  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 25.4% 46  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 20.3% 40  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) No Minimum Wage Law ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 107,893 kids (1.9% of total pop.) 25  
Largest School District Enrollment 61,869 kids (1.1% of total pop.) 33  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 70.6% 9  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 82.1% 40  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 24.4% 50  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 19% 28  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Behind the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade D   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Poor   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 201,160 units 31  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 44.4% 38  
Cost of Living: Housing 84.0 33  
Cost of Living: Utilities 105.1 42  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 95.4 7  
Cost of Living: Overall 95.6 35  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 57.31%   40
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 37.60%   44
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 54.30%   47
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 24.6%   46
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 9,936.6 incidents per 100,000 people 69  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 932.7 incidents per 100,000 people 42  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 9,003.9 incidents per 100,000 people 70  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 10,105.9 incidents per 100,000 people 68  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(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) 3.2    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.6 parks per square mile 34  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 130.0 park acres per city square mile 2  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 6.5 acres 40  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $75 per resident 26  
Total City Tree Canopy % 0% 63  
Total City Urbanized Area % 46.8% 18  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks No ---  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(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) 3.1    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.50% 33
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 7.43% 16
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.21% 58
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.34% 65
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 26.00% 62
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.53% 62  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 17.9% 7
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 6.9% 5
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) < 10% ---
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) 19.0% 45
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 6.4% 19
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 172.7 4
Cost of Living: Health 116.4 49  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 17.1% 40
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 18.7% 46
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 9.4% 48
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 1.6% 49
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 4 farms 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 5 markets 51
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 1 other source 45
Cost of Living: Food 104.4 38
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 61.3% 19
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 35.8% 16
«Back to Map     Top↑
(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)    3.3***    
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 0 programs   32
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by Only One or More Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 10 kW   34
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 10 kW   36
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds Funds Support Energy Efficiency   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 15%   9
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2025   20
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 No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings LEED Required   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 7.5%   16
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) (Not Available) (Not Available)
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual (Not Available) (Not Available)
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. (Not Available) (Not Available)
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. (Not Available) (Not Available)
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. (Not Available) (Not Available)
Heating Degree Days (Not Available) (Not Available)
Cooling Degree Days (Not Available) (Not Available)
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) (Not Available) (Not Available)
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) (Not Available) (Not Available)
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) (Not Available) (Not Available)
Elevation, feet 2,490 feet 64
 
«Back to Map     Top↑

(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)2 507,362 31 (of 72 in EDN study) 8.7% of state population
City Population (2000) 486,699 30 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 5,829,839 16 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Southwest ---  
EPA Region 9 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 195.0 square miles 23 0.2% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 113,642 square miles 6  
Watershed Name Upper Santa Cruz ---  
Elevation, feet 2,490 ft. (757.4 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 51.7°F (10.9°C) 12
Average Daily Temperature - July 86.5°F (30.3°C) 69  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 32.3 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 71.1% 58  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 11.5% 23  
Under 5 years of age 40,114 kids (8.1% of total pop.) 27  
One Race-White % (2005) 65.3% 32  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 34.7% 41  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 40.8% 10  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 32.7% 22  
Largest School District Name Tucson Unified ---  
 
«Back to Map     Top↑
 
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.
 
«Back to Map 
© 2006 Earth Day Network