This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 01003 at 100-meter resolution, combining road, aviation, and rail sources. Green areas measure below 45 dBA. Orange and red exceed the EPA's 55 dBA outdoor threshold linked to long-term health effects. Use the layer toggles to view each source on its own or all together.
What the numbers sound like
- 30 dBAWhisper
- 40 dBASoft rainfall
- 45 dBAQuiet suburban street at night
- 50 dBAQuiet office
- 55 dBAEPA outdoor threshold: light traffic 100 ft away
- 60 dBANormal conversation an arm's length away
- 65 dBABusy restaurant
- 70 dBAHighway traffic 50 ft away
- 80 dBACity bus interior
Population Above the EPA Outdoor Threshold
The EPA's 55 dBA outdoor reference level is a common benchmark for residential noise exposure, especially for activity interference, annoyance, and long-term community noise concerns. About 1,908 01003 residents, or 19.9%, live above that level. By land area, 24.6% of 01003 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 01003 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 01003
Average noise levels for 01003 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 01003. Central 01003 carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern 01003 carries the lowest. Just 5% of residents in Northern 01003 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central 01003.
Central 01003
34% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 01003
6% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 01003
5% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 01003
29% of people above 55 dBA
Central 01003 sounds about 72% louder than Northern 01003 to the human ear, a 7.8 dBA gap. Every 10 dBA roughly doubles perceived loudness. Within any of these directions, two homes a quarter mile apart can still differ by 10 or more dBA depending on how close they sit to a major highway.
How far back from do you need to be?
produces an estimated 77 dBA at its loudest centerline points. Noise drops logarithmically with distance, with the exact rate depending on what's between you and the road. Tree cover, walls, terrain, and pavement type all matter. At roughly a quarter mile back, traffic fades into the noise level of a quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 17% of 01003 sits under tree canopy (about average for zip codes) and roughly 61% is impervious surface like pavement and rooftops. Both are folded into the per-place decay rate above. Heavier canopy pulls noise down faster with distance; impervious surfaces slow the drop.