This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 95404 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 9,232 95404 residents, or 29.2%, live above that level. By land area, 31.9% of 95404 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 95404 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 95404
Average noise levels for 95404 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 95404. Central 95404 carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern 95404 carries the lowest. Just 6% of residents in Eastern 95404 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central 95404.
Central 95404
42% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 95404
6% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 95404
25% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 95404
29% of people above 55 dBA
Western 95404
43% of people above 55 dBA
Central 95404 sounds about 203% louder than Eastern 95404 to the human ear, a 16.0 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 State Rte 12 do you need to be?
State Rte 12 produces an estimated 68 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 16% of 95404 sits under tree canopy (about average for zip codes) and roughly 45% 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.