This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Aransas County 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 2,304 Aransas County residents, or 13.8%, live above that level. By land area, 19.5% of Aransas County is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Aransas County compares to similar-sized counties.
Noise by Part of Aransas County
Average noise levels for Aransas County residents, grouped by direction from the center of Aransas County. Central Aransas County carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Aransas County carries the lowest. Just 7% of residents in Western Aransas County live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Aransas County.
Central Aransas County
38% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Aransas County
19% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Aransas County
15% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Aransas County
11% of people above 55 dBA
Western Aransas County
7% of people above 55 dBA
Central Aransas County sounds about 66% louder than Western Aransas County to the human ear, a 7.3 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 Hwy 35 do you need to be?
State Hwy 35 produces an estimated 55 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 7% of Aransas County sits under tree canopy (lighter than most counties) and roughly 27% 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.