This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 95501 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 6,318 95501 residents, or 39.1%, live above that level. By land area, 49.9% of 95501 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 95501 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 95501
Average noise levels for 95501 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 95501. The highest population-weighted average is in northern 95501; the lowest is in eastern 95501, where just 20% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in the loudest section.
Northern 95501
66% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 95501
49% of people above 55 dBA
Central 95501
36% of people above 55 dBA
Western 95501
18% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 95501
20% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern 95501 sounds about 82% louder than in eastern 95501, a 8.6 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 76 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 18% of 95501 sits under tree canopy (about average for zip codes) and roughly 56% 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.