Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Boise, Idaho
State Idaho
City Boise*
County1 Ada
City Population (2005)2 191,667 13.7% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 57 (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 Boise
State Population (2005)2 1,395,634
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) David Bieter
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.cityofboise.org/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 208-384-4422
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Saturday, November 10, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name C.L. "Butch" Otter
State/Governor Website http://www.state.id.us/
State/Governor Contact Information 208-334-2100
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
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) 1.12    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 11.0%    
     Disability Status 15.5% 42  
     Emphysema 1.09% 16  
     Cardiovascular Disease 22.84% 18  
     Diabetes 4.78% 18  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.51% 40  
     Adult Asthma 8.10% 34  
     Adult Obesity 20.0%   23
     People Without Health Insurance 15.5%   32
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.1% 25  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.0% 23  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 10.0% 2  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 8.9% 70  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 7.1% 69  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 6.0% 14  
     Individuals Below Poverty 8.4% 3  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 9.7% 3  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 26.8% 8  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 8.3% 15  
«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 7.6 (of 51) 6  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 6,236,545 pounds   10
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 2,392,891 pounds 5
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 208,124 pounds 5
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 69,605,663 pounds 13
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 71,767,963 pounds 12
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 7.0 grams 7
Number of Superfund Sites in County 0 sites 1  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.765 tons per person 7
Recycling Rate (1997) 8.0% 46
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 1,185,590 tons 6
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 0.9 tons/person 2
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 99,590 tons 47
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 8.4% 43
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 17.6% 21
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 5.0% 17
«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)    1.8***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 0 tons   1
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 100 tons   1
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 526,100 tons   2
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 0.0 pounds   1
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 0.7 days 10  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 4.0 PM2.5 48  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 9.1 PM2.5 9  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 0.3 days 9  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 1.0 PM2.5 27  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 8.8 PM2.5 9  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 4 ppm 42  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 22 ug/m3 11  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
«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)    2.6***    
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 Lower Boise ---  
# of Units in Watershed 35 units 39  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 19 units 39  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 18 units 33  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 94.7% 52  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 45.7% 52  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 12.11 inches 63  
Water Area Total, square miles 823 square miles 48  
Water Area Inland, square miles 823 square miles 41  
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 Boise ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 59 years 11  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 90 days 47  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Boise ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 59 years 16  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 20.8 inches 27  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 15,100,000,000 gallons/day 20  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 13,000,000,000 gallons/day 2  
Ground water, gallons/day 2,830,000,000 gallons/day 24  
Surface water, gallons/day 12,300,000,000 gallons/day 20  
Irrigation, gallons/day 13,000,000,000 gallons/day 9  
Public Supply, gallons/day 254,000,000 gallons/day 59  
Industrial, gallons/day 76,000,000 gallons/day 60  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 0.0 gallons/day 72  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 4,360,000,000 gallons/day 19  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier United Water Idaho, Boise ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 186,000 people 61  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 27 contaminants 54  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 26  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 4 contaminants 37  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 7 contaminants 55  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 49  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 20 contaminants 55  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 3 contaminants 59  
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 16 contaminants 59  
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 3 contaminants 26  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 116 contaminants 32  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 102 contaminants 28  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 14 contaminants 42  
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)    2.5***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,913.1 people per square mile 40  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,220.7 housing units per square mile 40  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 18.0 minutes 8  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 18.0 minutes 12  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 10.3% 66  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 1.2% 61  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 4.0% 25  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 4.0% 6  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 100.1 25  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 93.2 MV registrations   41
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 56.0%   37
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 39.7 MV registrations   9
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.41 MV registrations   45
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 46,927 miles   17
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.129%   8
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 9.4%   44
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.05 miles   43
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 36.07 miles   40
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $547,000,000   9
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $11,656 per mile   5
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 56.3%   27
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) $42,432 18  
Median Household Income (2000) $42,432 14  
Per capita income (2004) $22,696 32  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $22,696 17  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 5.9% 3  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 8.4% 4  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 8.4% 3  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.0% 16  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 9.7% 3  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 6,805 people 10  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.5% 17  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.0% 14  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.1% 9  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 4.2% 4  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 30.9% 51  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 30.0% 50  
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) 33,950 kids (2.4% of total pop.) 58  
Largest School District Enrollment 26,598 kids (1.9% of total pop.) 59  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 26.8% 8  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 92.9% 1  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 91.1% 3  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 33.6% 23  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 10% 2  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade C   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Incomplete   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 74,438 units 58  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 36.0% 65  
Cost of Living: Housing 81.3 31  
Cost of Living: Utilities 75.4 2  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 99.6 34  
Cost of Living: Overall 91.2 31  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 64.69%   21
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 44.70%   35
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 58.30%   28
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 35.7%   14
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 4,146.2 incidents per 100,000 people 11  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 384.3 incidents per 100,000 people 10  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 3,761.9 incidents per 100,000 people 13  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 4,576.2 incidents per 100,000 people 12  
«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)    3.0***    
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 % 0.3% 61  
Total City Urbanized Area % 44.3% 17  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
«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) 2.6    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.51% 40
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.10% 34
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.02% 22
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.09% 16
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 22.84% 18
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 4.78% 18  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 20.0% 23
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 8.3% 23
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) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 17.0% 40
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 6.1% 15
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 171.2 3
Cost of Living: Health 111.8 44  
% 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) 15.5% 32
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -9.4% 2
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -1.6% 1
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 11 farms 31
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 14 markets 27
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 1 restaurant 28
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 2 grocery stores 26
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 2 other sources 36
Cost of Living: Food 95.4 12
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 62.2% 23
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 38.3% 23
«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)    3.1***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by only one or more Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 25 kW   21
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 100 kW   9
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Excercises Tax credit/exemption and/or grant supporting ethanol use   ---
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) 85.3%   1
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 56 years 12
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 58% 29
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.7 mph 37
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8 mph 47
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.4 mph 23
Heating Degree Days 5,861 days 42
Cooling Degree Days 754 days 23
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 59 years 3
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 69% 8
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 43% 6
Elevation, feet 2,700 feet 65
 
«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)2 191,667 57 (of 72 in EDN study) 13.7% of state population
City Population (2000) 185,787 57 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 1,395,634 39 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region West ---  
EPA Region 10 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 64.0 square miles 52 0.1% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 82,751 square miles 11  
Watershed Name Lower Boise ---  
Elevation, feet 2,700 ft. (821.3 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 30.2°F (-1.0°C) 47
Average Daily Temperature - July 74.7°F (23.7°C) 28  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 32.8 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 74.7% 33  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.0% 49  
Under 5 years of age 13,116 kids (7.1% of total pop.) 59  
One Race-White % (2005) 92.8% 3  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 7.2% 69  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 5.9% 51  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 8.3% 58  
Largest School District Name Boise City ISD ---  
 
«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