Tree Equity in Merriam, KS

96.9

Tree Equity Score

33.9%

Canopy Cover

2.9%

Canopy Gap

Priority Areas

* Sources & data verification →

Data-only cityEquity data available. Programs, species, and local info need community input.

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What is the Tree Equity Score?

American Forests' Tree Equity Score combines tree canopy coverage, surface temperature, income, employment, race, age, and health data to identify where trees are needed most. Scores range from 0 to 100, and areas below 60 are priority for investment.

View Merriam on Tree Equity Score ↗

96.9

TES Score / 100

33.9%

Current Canopy

30.0%

Canopy Goal

2.9%

Canopy Gap

Current: 33.9%Goal: 30.0%

Current canopy

Gap to goal

Environmental Benefits

Carbon Sequestered

3.8K tons CO₂/yr

+162 tons if gap closed

Stormwater Intercepted

26.9M gal/yr

Canopy Area

3.7 km²

of 10.1 km² total

Estimated using i-Tree urban canopy rates. Methodology ↗

Equity Indicators

These factors show how tree canopy gaps overlap with social and environmental vulnerabilities.

1930s Redlining

10.0%

of neighborhoods were graded "hazardous" or "declining" on 1930s federal lending maps. Banks refused to invest in these areas, and many are still under-treed decades later.

Environmental Justice

20.0%

of neighborhoods are classified as overburdened by the White House's Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool, meaning they face outsized pollution, poverty, or health risks. Trees help, but they're not the whole fix.

Heat Island Effect

+3.4°F

hotter than surrounding areas on average. Pavement absorbs heat, trees block it. That's the whole pitch.

People in the Data

9,958

people live across the 10 Census block groups we analyzed. That's who these numbers represent.

Data last updated: Feb 2026

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Local Partners