This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Akron 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 1,349 Akron residents, or 31.8%, live above that level. By land area, 35.7% of Akron is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Akron compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Akron
Average noise levels for Akron residents, grouped by direction from the center of Akron. The highest population-weighted average is in southern Akron; the lowest is in western Akron, where just 28% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Southern Akron
40% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Akron
36% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Akron
29% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Akron
28% of people above 55 dBA
Western Akron
28% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern Akron sounds about 27% louder than in western Akron, a 3.4 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 Seventh St do you need to be?
Seventh St produces an estimated 56 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 31% of Akron sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 29% 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.