This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Arbuckle 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 1,060 Arbuckle residents, or 25.9%, live above that level. By land area, 29.1% of Arbuckle is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Arbuckle compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Arbuckle
Average noise levels for Arbuckle residents, grouped by direction from the center of Arbuckle. Northern Arbuckle carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Arbuckle carries the lowest. Just 5% of residents in Southern Arbuckle live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern Arbuckle.
Central Arbuckle
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Arbuckle
27% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Arbuckle
36% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Arbuckle
5% of people above 55 dBA
Western Arbuckle
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Arbuckle sounds about 116% louder than Southern Arbuckle to the human ear, a 11.1 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 I-5 do you need to be?
I-5 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 soft rainfall.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 1% of Arbuckle sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 26% 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.