This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Benson 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 Benson residents, or 0.6%, live above that level. By land area, 0.3% of Benson is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Benson compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Benson
Average noise levels for Benson residents, grouped by direction from the center of Benson. Central Benson carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Benson carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Northern Benson live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Central Benson.
Central Benson
1% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Benson
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Benson
0% of people above 55 dBA
Central Benson sounds about 21% louder than Northern Benson to the human ear, a 2.8 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 Hwy 30 / Valley View Hwy do you need to be?
Hwy 30 / Valley View Hwy produces an estimated 63 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 0% of Benson sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 5% 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.