This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 02719 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 5,696 02719 residents, or 39.7%, live above that level. By land area, 41.2% of 02719 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 02719 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 02719
Average noise levels for 02719 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 02719. The highest population-weighted average is in northeastern 02719; the lowest is in southeastern 02719, where just 13% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Northeastern 02719
29% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern 02719
53% of people above 55 dBA
Western 02719
33% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 02719
11% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern 02719
13% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northeastern 02719 sounds about 160% louder than in southeastern 02719, a 13.8 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 I-195 do you need to be?
I-195 produces an estimated 74 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 38% of 02719 sits under tree canopy (heavier than most zip codes) and roughly 28% 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.