This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 95237 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 559 95237 residents, or 18.6%, live above that level. By land area, 26.9% of 95237 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 95237 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 95237
Average noise levels for 95237 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 95237. Northern 95237 carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern 95237 carries the lowest. Just 4% of residents in Southern 95237 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern 95237.
Central 95237
18% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 95237
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 95237
38% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 95237
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western 95237
4% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 95237 sounds about 60% louder than Southern 95237 to the human ear, a 6.8 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 69 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 8% of 95237 sits under tree canopy (lighter than most zip codes) and roughly 30% 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.