This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Aransas Pass 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 927 Aransas Pass residents, or 10.6%, live above that level. By land area, 14.0% of Aransas Pass is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Aransas Pass compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Aransas Pass
Average noise levels for Aransas Pass residents, grouped by direction from the center of Aransas Pass. Southern Aransas Pass carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Aransas Pass carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Central Aransas Pass live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Southern Aransas Pass.
Central Aransas Pass
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Aransas Pass
8% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Aransas Pass
3% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Aransas Pass
17% of people above 55 dBA
Western Aransas Pass
13% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Aransas Pass sounds about 171% louder than Central Aransas Pass to the human ear, a 14.4 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 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 Pass sits under tree canopy (lighter than most 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.