This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Argyle Forest 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 1,794 Argyle Forest residents, or 42.1%, live above that level. By land area, 60.6% of Argyle Forest is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Argyle Forest compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Argyle Forest
Average noise levels for Argyle Forest residents, grouped by direction from the center of Argyle Forest. Western Argyle Forest carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Argyle Forest carries the lowest. Just 25% of residents in Eastern Argyle Forest live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Western Argyle Forest.
Central Argyle Forest
64% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Argyle Forest
25% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Argyle Forest
37% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Argyle Forest
30% of people above 55 dBA
Western Argyle Forest
61% of people above 55 dBA
Western Argyle Forest sounds about 12% louder than Eastern Argyle Forest to the human ear, a 1.6 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 State Hwy 9 A do you need to be?
State Hwy 9 A 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 21% of Argyle Forest sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 42% 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.