This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Barnesville Historic District 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 484 Barnesville Historic District residents, or 19.4%, live above that level. By land area, 26.8% of Barnesville Historic District is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Barnesville Historic District compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Barnesville Historic District
Average noise levels for Barnesville Historic District residents, grouped by direction from the center of Barnesville Historic District. The highest population-weighted average is in central Barnesville Historic District; the lowest is in western Barnesville Historic District, where just 2% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in the loudest section.
Central Barnesville Historic District
23% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Barnesville Historic District
7% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Barnesville Historic District
16% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Barnesville Historic District
5% of people above 55 dBA
Western Barnesville Historic District
2% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in central Barnesville Historic District sounds about 54% louder than in western Barnesville Historic District, a 6.2 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 Barnesville-bethesda Rd do you need to be?
Barnesville-bethesda 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 31% of Barnesville Historic District sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 24% 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.