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. The highest population-weighted average is in western 95404; the lowest is in southeastern 95404, where just 5% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in the loudest section.
Western 95404
50% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern 95404
48% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 95404
26% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern 95404
17% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern 95404
5% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in western 95404 sounds about 232% louder than in southeastern 95404, a 17.3 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 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.