This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 95829 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 8,573 95829 residents, or 29.5%, live above that level. By land area, 29.6% of 95829 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 95829 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 95829
Average noise levels for 95829 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 95829. Western 95829 carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern 95829 carries the lowest. Just 22% of residents in Northern 95829 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in Western 95829.
Central 95829
29% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 95829
22% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 95829
22% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 95829
32% of people above 55 dBA
Western 95829
38% of people above 55 dBA
Western 95829 sounds about 27% louder than Northern 95829 to the human ear, a 3.4 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 2% of 95829 sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most zip codes) and roughly 46% 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.