This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Atlantic City Inlet 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 701 Atlantic City Inlet residents, or 18.6%, live above that level. By land area, 27.5% of Atlantic City Inlet is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Atlantic City Inlet compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Atlantic City Inlet
Average noise levels for Atlantic City Inlet residents, grouped by direction from the center of Atlantic City Inlet. Western Atlantic City Inlet carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Atlantic City Inlet carries the lowest. Just 10% of residents in Northern Atlantic City Inlet live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Western Atlantic City Inlet.
Central Atlantic City Inlet
19% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Atlantic City Inlet
10% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Atlantic City Inlet
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Atlantic City Inlet
37% of people above 55 dBA
Western Atlantic City Inlet sounds about 158% louder than Northern Atlantic City Inlet to the human ear, a 13.7 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 70 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 2% of Atlantic City Inlet sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 78% 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.