This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Bonham 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 958 Bonham residents, or 34.5%, live above that level. By land area, 36.0% of Bonham is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Bonham compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Bonham
Average noise levels for Bonham residents, grouped by direction from the center of Bonham. Central Bonham carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Bonham carries the lowest. Just 24% of residents in Southern Bonham live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Central Bonham.
Central Bonham
64% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Bonham
44% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Bonham
14% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Bonham
24% of people above 55 dBA
Western Bonham
18% of people above 55 dBA
Central Bonham sounds about 42% louder than Southern Bonham to the human ear, a 5.1 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 60 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 2% of Bonham sits under tree canopy (much lighter 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.