This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Abilene Heights Area 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 475 Abilene Heights Area residents, or 11.6%, live above that level. By land area, 16.4% of Abilene Heights Area is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Abilene Heights Area compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Abilene Heights Area
Average noise levels for Abilene Heights Area residents, grouped by direction from the center of Abilene Heights Area. The highest population-weighted average is in northern Abilene Heights Area; the lowest is in central Abilene Heights Area, where just 11% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Northern Abilene Heights Area
18% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Abilene Heights Area
18% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Abilene Heights Area
15% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Abilene Heights Area
12% of people above 55 dBA
Central Abilene Heights Area
11% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northern Abilene Heights Area sounds about 21% louder than in central Abilene Heights Area, a 2.8 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 I-20 do you need to be?
I-20 produces an estimated 75 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 1% of Abilene Heights Area sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 48% 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.