This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 97055 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 5,171 97055 residents, or 28.1%, live above that level. By land area, 24.3% of 97055 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 97055 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 97055
Average noise levels for 97055 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 97055. The highest population-weighted average is in northwestern 97055; the lowest is in southern 97055, where just 3% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in the loudest section.
Northwestern 97055
24% of people above 55 dBA
Western 97055
20% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 97055
4% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern 97055
2% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 97055
3% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northwestern 97055 sounds about 100% louder than in southern 97055, a 10.0 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 26 do you need to be?
US Route 26 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 33% of 97055 sits under tree canopy (heavier than most zip codes) and roughly 28% 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.