This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 97121 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 395 97121 residents, or 27.4%, live above that level. By land area, 23.2% of 97121 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 97121 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 97121
Average noise levels for 97121 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 97121. Northern 97121 carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern 97121 carries the lowest. Just 3% of residents in Southern 97121 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern 97121.
Central 97121
24% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 97121
30% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 97121
67% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 97121
3% of people above 55 dBA
Western 97121
19% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 97121 sounds about 93% louder than Southern 97121 to the human ear, a 9.5 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 104 do you need to be?
Oregon Route 104 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 27% of 97121 sits under tree canopy (about average for zip codes) and roughly 36% 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.