This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Belview Heights 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 1,068 Belview Heights residents, or 42.7%, live above that level. By land area, 44.7% of Belview Heights is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Belview Heights compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Belview Heights
Average noise levels for Belview Heights residents, grouped by direction from the center of Belview Heights. The highest population-weighted average is in northeastern Belview Heights; the lowest is in southwestern Belview Heights, where just 42% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Northeastern Belview Heights
52% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Belview Heights
58% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Belview Heights
38% of people above 55 dBA
Central Belview Heights
39% of people above 55 dBA
Southwestern Belview Heights
42% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in northeastern Belview Heights sounds about 26% louder than in southwestern Belview Heights, a 3.3 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 Old US Hwy 78 do you need to be?
Old US Hwy 78 produces an estimated 59 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 27% of Belview Heights sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 35% 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.