This map shows modeled outdoor noise across 98555 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 25 98555 residents, or 5.1%, live above that level. By land area, 6.4% of 98555 is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in 98555 compares to similar-sized zip codes.
Noise by Part of 98555
Average noise levels for 98555 residents, grouped by direction from the center of 98555. Southern 98555 carries the highest population-weighted average; Western 98555 carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Western 98555 live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Southern 98555.
Northern 98555
6% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 98555
4% of people above 55 dBA
Western 98555
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern 98555 sounds about 396% louder than Western 98555 to the human ear, a 23.1 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-101 do you need to be?
US-101 produces an estimated 61 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 64% of 98555 sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most zip codes) and roughly 7% 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.