This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 97845 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 490 97845 residents, or 20.3%, live above that level. By land area, 15.9% of 97845 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 97845 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 97845
Average noise levels for 97845 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 97845. Northern 97845 carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern 97845 carries the lowest. Just 12% of residents in Eastern 97845 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Northern 97845.
Central 97845
17% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern 97845
12% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 97845
34% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 97845
8% of people above 55 dBA
Western 97845
11% of people above 55 dBA
Northern 97845 sounds about 74% louder than Eastern 97845 to the human ear, a 8.0 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 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 3% of 97845 sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most zip codes) and roughly 31% 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.