This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 97017 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 86 97017 residents, or 3.0%, live above that level. By land area, 3.3% of 97017 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 97017 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 97017
Average noise levels for 97017 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 97017. Central 97017 carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern 97017 carries the lowest. Just 2% of residents in Northern 97017 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central 97017.
Central 97017
14% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 97017
2% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 97017
2% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 97017
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western 97017
4% of people above 55 dBA
Central 97017 sounds about 71% louder than Northern 97017 to the human ear, a 7.7 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 Oregon Route 211 do you need to be?
Oregon Route 211 produces an estimated 58 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 49% of 97017 sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most zip codes) and roughly 2% 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.