This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 01516 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 654 01516 residents, or 7.4%, live above that level. By land area, 12.8% of 01516 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 01516 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 01516
Average noise levels for 01516 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 01516. Northern 01516 carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern 01516 carries the lowest. Just 4% of residents in Southern 01516 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Northern 01516.
Central 01516
10% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 01516
4% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 01516
15% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 01516
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western 01516
5% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 01516 sounds about 49% louder than Southern 01516 to the human ear, a 5.8 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 Worcester-providence Tpke do you need to be?
Worcester-providence Tpke produces an estimated 73 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 soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 73% of 01516 sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most zip codes) and roughly 3% 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.