This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Aptos 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 2,994 Aptos residents, or 21.5%, live above that level. By land area, 34.8% of Aptos is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Aptos compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Aptos
Average noise levels for Aptos residents, grouped by direction from the center of Aptos. Southern Aptos carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Aptos carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Northern Aptos live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Southern Aptos.
Eastern Aptos
4% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Aptos
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Aptos
52% of people above 55 dBA
Western Aptos
33% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Aptos sounds about 261% louder than Northern Aptos to the human ear, a 18.5 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 State Rte 1 do you need to be?
State Rte 1 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 34% of Aptos sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 28% 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.