This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Alcalde 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 486 Alcalde residents, or 24.9%, live above that level. By land area, 20.4% of Alcalde is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Alcalde compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Alcalde
Average noise levels for Alcalde residents, grouped by direction from the center of Alcalde. Eastern Alcalde carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Alcalde carries the lowest. Just 28% of residents in Western Alcalde live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Eastern Alcalde.
Central Alcalde
12% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Alcalde
34% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Alcalde
21% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Alcalde
26% of people above 55 dBA
Western Alcalde
28% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Alcalde sounds about 28% louder than Western Alcalde to the human ear, a 3.6 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 Nm Hwy 68 do you need to be?
Nm Hwy 68 produces an estimated 66 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 0% of Alcalde sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 12% 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.