This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Ben Wheeler 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 15 Ben Wheeler residents, or 0.4%, live above that level. By land area, 0.6% of Ben Wheeler is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Ben Wheeler compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Ben Wheeler
Average noise levels for Ben Wheeler residents, grouped by direction from the center of Ben Wheeler. Western Ben Wheeler carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Ben Wheeler carries the lowest. Just 1% of residents in Eastern Ben Wheeler live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, roughly the same as the share in Western Ben Wheeler.
Central Ben Wheeler
0% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Ben Wheeler
1% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Ben Wheeler
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Ben Wheeler
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Ben Wheeler
0% of people above 55 dBA
Western Ben Wheeler sounds about 33% louder than Eastern Ben Wheeler to the human ear, a 4.1 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 58 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 26% of Ben Wheeler sits under tree canopy (about average for cities) and roughly 1% 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.