This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Benton Park 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 5,445 Benton Park residents, or 50.3%, live above that level. By land area, 55.7% of Benton Park is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Benton Park compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Benton Park
Average noise levels for Benton Park residents, grouped by direction from the center of Benton Park. Western Benton Park carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Benton Park carries the lowest. Just 42% of residents in Central Benton Park live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in Western Benton Park.
Central Benton Park
42% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Benton Park
54% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Benton Park
52% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Benton Park
41% of people above 55 dBA
Western Benton Park
65% of people above 55 dBA
Western Benton Park sounds about 49% louder than Central Benton Park to the human ear, a 5.8 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 State Rte 99 do you need to be?
State Rte 99 produces an estimated 77 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 Benton Park sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 46% 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.