This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 97033 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 14 97033 residents, or 17.6%, live above that level. By land area, 20.8% of 97033 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 97033 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 97033
Average noise levels for 97033 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 97033. Western 97033 carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern 97033 carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Eastern 97033 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western 97033.
Eastern 97033
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 97033
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western 97033
70% of people above 55 dBA
Western 97033 sounds about 153% louder than Eastern 97033 to the human ear, a 13.4 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 US Route 97 do you need to be?
US Route 97 produces an estimated 62 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 0% of 97033 sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most zip codes) and roughly 0% 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.