Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Burlington, Vermont
State Vermont
City Burlington**
County1 Chittenden
City Population (2005)2 38,889 6.5% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 72** (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Very Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Montpelier
State Population (2005)2 602,290
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Bob Kiss
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 802-865-7272
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, March 11, 2008
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  Yes
State Governor Name Jim Douglas
State/Governor Website http://vermont.gov/
State/Governor Contact Information 802-828-3333
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
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) 1.18    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 13.3%    
     Disability Status 17.0% 50  
     Emphysema 1.18% 38  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.47% 45  
     Diabetes 5.17% 47  
     Pediatric Asthma 7.94% 1  
     Adult Asthma 8.84% 50  
     Adult Obesity 17.1%   3
     People Without Health Insurance 11.4%   11
     Age: Children under 5 years 4.6% 1  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.5% 33  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 12.0% 6  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 12.3% 59  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 40.6% 44  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Individuals Below Poverty 20.0% 50  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 19.4% 29  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 40.6% 16  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 10.6% 22  
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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) 1.8    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 5.1 (of 51) 3  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 321,931 pounds   2
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 2,728,397 pounds 6
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 11,795 pounds 3
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 9,154,908 pounds 3
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 7,629,346 pounds 2
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 1.1 grams 4
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.112 tons per person 32
Recycling Rate (1997) 30.0% 18
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 644,386 tons 2
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.0 tons/person 6
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 186,046 tons 40
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 29.3% 16
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 8.8% 13
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) -10.1% 12
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -2.3% 22
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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)    1.5***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 0 tons   1
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 200 tons   2
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 294,500 tons   1
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 0.0 pounds   1
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 1.0 days 14  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.7 PM2.5 21  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 9.5 PM2.5 10  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 1.0 days 15  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.7 PM2.5 20  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 9.4 PM2.5 11  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 2 ppm 5  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.015 ppm 18  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 19 ug/m3 5  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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)    2.9***    
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 Winooski ---  
# of Units in Watershed 72 units 25  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 70 units 16  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 54 units 48  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 77.1% 36  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 2.8% 22  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 34.47 inches 37  
Water Area Total, square miles 366 square miles 63  
Water Area Inland, square miles 366 square miles 60  
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 Burlington ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 55 years 36  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 155 days 2  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Burlington ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 55 years 34  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 78.3 inches 2  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 565,000,000 gallons/day 67  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 967,000,000 gallons/day 50  
Ground water, gallons/day 50,000,000 gallons/day 70  
Surface water, gallons/day 515,000,000 gallons/day 67  
Irrigation, gallons/day 3,900,000,000 gallons/day 69  
Public Supply, gallons/day 66,000,000 gallons/day 71  
Industrial, gallons/day 12,000,000 gallons/day 69  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 452,000,000 gallons/day 51  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 24,000,000 gallons/day 70  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Burlington Water Res. ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 47,600 people 70  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water (Not Available) ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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)    2.6***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 3,682.0 people per square mile 29  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,552.3 housing units per square mile 29  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 16.8 minutes 6  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 16.8 minutes 6  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 12.0% 50  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 3.8% 40  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 18.0% 1  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 3.1% 22  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 104.1 37  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 85.7 MV registrations   27
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 48.7%   35
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 45.2 MV registrations   19
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.95 MV registrations   6
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 14,359 miles   6
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.353%   21
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 9.6%   42
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.03 miles   31
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 27.83 miles   36
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $312,000,000   2
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $21,729 per mile   23
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 60.8%   30
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) $33,070 57  
Median Household Income (2000) $33,070 56  
Per capita income (2004) $19,011 57  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $19,011 51  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 10.4% 23  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 20.0% 49  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 20.0% 50  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 6.6% 54  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 19.4% 29  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.7% 26  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.4% 22  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Higher Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $7.25 per hour 3  
EDUCATION
 
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 4,543 kids (0.8% of total pop.) 72  
Largest School District Enrollment 3,666 kids (0.6% of total pop.) 71  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 40.6% 16  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 59.4% 25  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 87.7% 14  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 42.0% 6  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 12% 6  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Behind the Curve   ---
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) 15,885 units 72  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 58.5% 9  
Cost of Living: Housing 115.9 45  
Cost of Living: Utilities 149.7 70  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 108.3 61  
Cost of Living: Overall 113.3 48  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 66.19%   14
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 51.90%   19
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 62.40%   9
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 37.1%   10
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 4,502.1 incidents per 100,000 people 15  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 259.6 incidents per 100,000 people 5  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 4,242.5 incidents per 100,000 people 16  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 4,002.4 incidents per 100,000 people 9  
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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)    2.0***    
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 % 18.3% 18  
Total City Urbanized Area % 35.4% 5  
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) 7.94% 1
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.84% 50
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.22% 59
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.18% 38
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.47% 45
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.17% 47  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 17.1% 3
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 7.1% 11
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) 15%-19% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 9.0% 10
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 4.4% 1
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 186.4 16
Cost of Living: Health 105.1 33  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 10.3% 4
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 11.4% 11
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 10.7% 49
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 1.1% 46
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 26 farms 6
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 10 markets 31
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 3 grocery stores 18
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 2 other sources 36
Cost of Living: Food 105.7 43
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 58.8% 13
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 41.9% 34
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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)    3.0***    
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 No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 15 kW   32
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 150 kW   8
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 Equal to Load Growth   (Not Available)
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards 2005-2012   (Not Available)
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 with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes5 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) 25.9%   8
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 52 years 24
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 44% 57
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9 mph 28
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.8 mph 28
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8 mph 31
Heating Degree Days 7,771 days 56
Cooling Degree Days 388 days 8
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 33 years 50
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 77% 16
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 59% 35
Elevation, feet 200 feet 26
 
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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 38,889 72** (of 72 in EDN study) 6.5% of state population
City Population (2000) 38,889 72 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 602,290 49 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region New England ---  
EPA Region 1 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 11.0 square miles 72 0.2% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 9,249 square miles 43  
Watershed Name Winooski ---  
Elevation, feet 200 ft. (60.8 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 18.0°F (-7.8°C) 67
Average Daily Temperature - July 70.6°F (21.4°C) 11  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 29.2 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 83.7% 1  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.5% 38  
Under 5 years of age 1,788 kids (4.6% of total pop.) 72  
One Race-White % (2005) 92.3% 5  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 7.7% 68  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 1.4% 70  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 10.6% 51  
Largest School District Name Burlington 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