This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 17501 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 1,369 17501 residents, or 32.4%, live above that level. By land area, 35.4% of 17501 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 17501 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 17501
Average noise levels for 17501 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 17501. The highest population-weighted average is in southern 17501; the lowest is in northwestern 17501, where just 28% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Southern 17501
40% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern 17501
35% of people above 55 dBA
Western 17501
28% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 17501
27% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern 17501
28% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern 17501 sounds about 26% louder than in northwestern 17501, a 3.3 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 Seventh St do you need to be?
Seventh St produces an estimated 56 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 31% of 17501 sits under tree canopy (heavier than most zip codes) and roughly 29% 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.