Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: What's Your City's SCORE?
 
CITY SCORE
Houston, Texas

State Texas
City Houston
County1 Harris*
City Population (2005 Census)2 1,941,430

EDN CITY RANK, Overall 68     
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) RANK λ 64 λ detail↓    
  Complete Rank Lists

 EDN Subject Areas EDN SCORE3
(1 is best, 5 is worst)
EDN VPI Rank
(1 is best, 72 is worst)
 
 1 • TOXICS & WASTE      4.3*** 72 detail↓
 2 • AIR QUALITY      3.4*** 60 detail↓
 3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER 3.3 67 detail↓
 4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4) 3.1 63 detail↓
 5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES 3.9 62 detail↓
 6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH 2.9 59 detail↓
 7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE      3.3*** 59 detail↓
 

λ All cities have vulnerable populations. However, in some U.S. cities the concentration of citizens at risk is of particular concern. Our vulnerable population index is a measure suggesting what portion of a city's population may have greater sensitivity to change. The EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) for Houston is 1.46, which yields a rank of 64 out of 72 (1 is best, 72 is worst). Approximately 21.5% of Houston's population is more susceptible to environmental degradation.

 

Environmental Data Card

Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all cities may have scores/data in every category. 1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most education, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.


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© 2006 Earth Day Network
 

   
SCORE Detail EDN VPI or
% of People
EDN VPI Rank
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.46 64

Vulnerable Population Estimate 21.5%

     Disability Status 10.8%

     Emphysema 0.97%

     Cardiovascular Disease 20.83%

     Diabetes 4.32%

     Pediatric Asthma 8.49%

     Adult Asthma 7.31%

     Adult Obesity 23.8%

     People Without Health Insurance 24.5%

     Age: Children under 5 years 9.0%

     Age: 65 years and over 8.4%

     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 31.0%

     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 28.2%

     High School Drop-Out Rate 59.8%

     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 9.1%

     Individuals Below Poverty Level 19.6%

     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 26.1%

     Free or Reduced Lunch 70.7%

     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 46.1%

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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (data)      4.3*** 72
Overall Toxics Rank SCORE 5  

 
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State SCORE 5  

 
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State SCORE 5  

 
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State SCORE 5  

 
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State SCORE 5  

 
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State SCORE 5  

 
Dioxin Releases by State SCORE 5  

 
Number of Superfund Sites in County SCORE 5  

 
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, State Average, tons/person (1997) SCORE 3  

 
Recycling Rate (1997) SCORE (Not Available)  

 
Municipal Solid Waste Generated by state, tons/person (2004) SCORE 2  

 
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by state (2004) SCORE 4  

 
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) SCORE 5  

 
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) SCORE 2  

 
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) SCORE (Not Available)  

 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (data)      3.4*** 60
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons (2002) SCORE 4  

 
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons (2002) SCORE 4  

 
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons (2002) SCORE 5  

 
Mercury Released, Pounds (2002) SCORE 5  

 
High Ozone Days, Annual # of, Weighted Average (2001-2003) 5  

 
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) SCORE 4  

 
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Pass/Fail (2001 - 2003) SCORE 1  

 
High Ozone Days - Grade (2002 - 2004) SCORE (Not Available)  

 
Short-term Particle Pollution Grade (2002 - 2004) SCORE (Not Available)  

 
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Pass/Fail (2002 - 2004) SCORE (Not Available)  

 
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) SCORE 3  

 
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) SCORE 1  

 
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) SCORE 2  

 
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) SCORE 3  

 
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) SCORE 3  

 
EPA Days Over 100 AQI (Warning Level) SCORE 4  

 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (data) 3.3 67
DRINKING WATER QUALITY

 
Tap Water Quality & Compliance SCORE 3  

 
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water SCORE 3  

 
Drinking Water Source Protection SCORE 4  

 
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened SCORE 5  

 
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed SCORE 2  

 
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) SCORE 2  

 
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual SCORE 4  

 
Snow & Ice Pellets thru 1998, Annual inches SCORE 5  

 
WATER WITHDRAWN

 
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, million gallons/day SCORE 2  

 
Ground Water, million gallons/day SCORE 5  

 
Surface Water, million gallons/day SCORE 5  

 
Irrigation, million gallons/day SCORE 4  

 
Public Supply, million gallons/day SCORE 5  

 
Industrial, million gallons/day SCORE 5  

 
Thermo-Electric, million gallons/day SCORE 5  

 
Fresh Water Consumption, million gallons/day SCORE 5  

 
WATER POLLUTION SUMMARY

 
Total Contaminants Detected SCORE 3  

 
Contaminants Detected, Over Health-Based Limits SCORE 3  

 
Agricultural Pollutants Detected SCORE 3  

 
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health-Based Limits SCORE 1  

 
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected SCORE 3  

 
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health-Based Limits SCORE 2  

 
Industrial Pollutants Detected SCORE 3  

 
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health-Based Limits SCORE 3  

 
Water Treatment & Distribution Byproducts Detected SCORE 2  

 
Water Treatment & Distribution Byproducts Detected, Over Health-Based Limits SCORE 2  

 
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected SCORE 4  

 
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health-Based Limits SCORE 3  

 
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY

 
Contaminants in Tap Water SCORE 3  

 
Contaminants in Tap Water, Above Health-Based Limits SCORE 3  

 
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier SCORE 4  

 
Regulated Contaminants Tested SCORE 4  

 
Unregulated Contaminants Tested SCORE 4  

 
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY

 
Total Violations SCORE 2  

 
Health Violations SCORE 1  

 
Monitoring Violations SCORE 2  

 
Reporting Violations SCORE 3  

 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (data) 3.1 63
DENSITY & SPRAWL

 
Population Density, people per square mile of land area SCORE 4  

 
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area SCORE 4  

 
TRANSPORTATION

 
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) SCORE 3  

 
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) SCORE 3  

 
Means of Transportation - % Carpool SCORE 3  

 
Means of Transportation - % Public SCORE 4  

 
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike SCORE 5  

 
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home SCORE 4  

 
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average SCORE 2  

 
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) SCORE 1  

 
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) SCORE 2  

 
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) SCORE 1  

 
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) SCORE 2  

 
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) SCORE 2  

 
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) SCORE 3  

 
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) SCORE 2  

 
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) SCORE 2  

 
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways, millions of $ (1995 to 2003) SCORE 3  

 
State Disbursements for Highways, millions of $ per highway mile (2003) SCORE 2  

 
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) SCORE 4  

 
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) SCORE 4  

 
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost, millions of $ (2003) SCORE 3  

 
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) SCORE 4  

 
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT

 
Median Household Income (2000) SCORE 4  

 
Median Household Income (2004) SCORE 4  

 
Per capita Personal Income (2000) SCORE 4  

 
Per capita income (2004) SCORE 4  

 
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) SCORE 3  

 
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) SCORE 3  

 
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) SCORE 3  

 
Household with Public Assistance Income % (2000) SCORE 2  

 
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty (1999) SCORE 3  

 
% In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) SCORE 3  

 
% of the Civilian Labor force, Unemployed (2005) SCORE 3  

 
% In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2000) SCORE 3  

 
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) SCORE 3  

 
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) SCORE 4  

 
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) SCORE 4  

 
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) SCORE 3  

 
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) SCORE 4  

 
EDUCATION

 
% on Free or Reduced Lunch SCORE 4  

 
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate SCORE 5  

 
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) SCORE 4  

 
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) SCORE 3  

 
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate SCORE 3  

 
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) SCORE 3  

 
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade SCORE 3  

 
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) SCORE 2  

 
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) SCORE 3  

 
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING

 
% of Owner Occupied Housing SCORE 3  

 
Cost of Living: Housing SCORE 2  

 
Cost of Living: Utilities SCORE 2  

 
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous SCORE 2  

 
Cost of Living: Overall SCORE 2  

 
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

 
Voter Turnout in the Election of November (2004) SCORE (Not Available)  

 
State Voter Turnout Rate: (2002) Election SCORE 5  

 
State Voter Turnout Rate: (2004) Election SCORE 5  

 
State Volunteering Rate: (2002-2005 Combined) SCORE 4  

 
SAFETY/SECURITY

 
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) SCORE 3  

 
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) SCORE 3  

 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (data) 3.9 62
Average # of Parks, per square mile SCORE 5  

 
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile SCORE 3  

 
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres SCORE 4  

 
Parkland as % of City Area SCORE 4  

 
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident SCORE 5  

 
Total City Urbanized Area % SCORE 3  

 
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users SCORE 5  

 
Disability Advisory Committees SCORE 5  

 
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks SCORE 1  

 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (data) 2.9 59
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) SCORE 3  

 
Adult Asthma, rate (%) SCORE 1  

 
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) SCORE 1  

 
Emphysema, rate (%) SCORE 1  

 
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) SCORE 1  

 
Diabetes, rate (%) SCORE 1  

 
% of Adults with Obesity SCORE 4  

 
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991 - 2001) SCORE 4  

 
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) SCORE 2  

 
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) SCORE 3  

 
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) SCORE 4  

 
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 -65 (2001) SCORE 5  

 
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) SCORE 2  

 
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) SCORE 3  

 
Cost of Living: Health SCORE 2  

 
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) SCORE 5  

 
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) SCORE 5  

 
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 03-04 and 04-05 SCORE 2  

 
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 03-04 and 04-05 SCORE 2  

 
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms SCORE 4  

 
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets SCORE 5  

 
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants SCORE 4  

 
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries SCORE 4  

 
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other SCORE 5  

 
Cost of Living: Food SCORE 1  

 
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men, by county (1999-2003) SCORE 3  

 
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women, by county (1999-2003) SCORE 2  

 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
SCORE Detail EDN SCORE3 EDN VPI Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (data)     3.3*** 59
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) 5  

 
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs SCORE 4  

 
Net Metering SCORE 3  

 
Net Metering Residential Size Limit SCORE 4  

 
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit SCORE 4  

 
Completed Climate Action Plans SCORE 5  

 
Regional Initiatives SCORE 1  

 
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories SCORE 1  

 
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries SCORE 1  

 
States with Public Benefit Funds SCORE 2  

 
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards SCORE (Not Available)  

 
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards SCORE 3  

 
States with Green Pricing Programs SCORE 3  

 
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems SCORE 1  

 
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol SCORE 3  

 
States with Residential Energy Codes SCORE 1  

 
States with Commercial Energy Codes SCORE 1  

 
Green Building Standards for State Buildings SCORE 5  

 
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) SCORE 5  

 
% of State Generation that is from Renewable Sources (2003) SCORE 5  

 
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual SCORE 4  

 
Annual Average wind speed (m.p.h.) SCORE 4  

 
January Average wind speed (m.p.h.) SCORE 4  

 
July Average wind speed (m.p.h.) SCORE 4  

 
Heating Degree Days SCORE 1  

 
Cooling Degree Days SCORE 4  

 
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) SCORE 5  

 
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) SCORE 3  

 
Elevation, feet SCORE 5  

 
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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 Population or Population Rank indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2005 or 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