This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Athens 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 Athens residents, or 0.8%, live above that level. By land area, 0.5% of Athens is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Athens compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Athens
Average noise levels for Athens residents, grouped by direction from the center of Athens. Eastern Athens carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Athens carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern Athens live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Eastern Athens.
Central Athens
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Athens
1% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Athens
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Athens
1% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Athens sounds about 58% louder than Southern Athens to the human ear, a 6.6 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 Beeks Rd do you need to be?
Beeks Rd 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 94% of Athens sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most cities) and roughly 0% 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.