This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Belmont-Charlottesville 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 1,845 Belmont-Charlottesville residents, or 40.3%, live above that level. By land area, 52.2% of Belmont-Charlottesville is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Belmont-Charlottesville compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Belmont-Charlottesville
Average noise levels for Belmont-Charlottesville residents, grouped by direction from the center of Belmont-Charlottesville. Southern Belmont-Charlottesville carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Belmont-Charlottesville carries the lowest. Just 35% of residents in Central Belmont-Charlottesville live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Southern Belmont-Charlottesville.
Central Belmont-Charlottesville
35% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Belmont-Charlottesville
40% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Belmont-Charlottesville
46% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Belmont-Charlottesville
48% of people above 55 dBA
Western Belmont-Charlottesville
45% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Belmont-Charlottesville sounds about 48% louder than Central Belmont-Charlottesville to the human ear, a 5.7 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 I-64 do you need to be?
I-64 produces an estimated 74 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 Belmont-Charlottesville sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 36% 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.