This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Center Bluff 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 2,447 Center Bluff residents, or 48.2%, live above that level. By land area, 55.0% of Center Bluff is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Center Bluff compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Center Bluff
Average noise levels for Center Bluff residents, grouped by direction from the center of Center Bluff. The highest population-weighted average is in southwestern Center Bluff; the lowest is in northwestern Center Bluff, where just 25% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in the loudest section.
Southwestern Center Bluff
51% of people above 55 dBA
Central Center Bluff
60% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Center Bluff
48% of people above 55 dBA
Western Center Bluff
29% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern Center Bluff
25% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southwestern Center Bluff sounds about 123% louder than in northwestern Center Bluff, a 11.6 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 Maywood Ave. do you need to be?
Maywood Ave. produces an estimated 55 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 25% of Center Bluff sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 45% 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.