This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Centerville Historic District 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 783 Centerville Historic District residents, or 28.5%, live above that level. By land area, 41.0% of Centerville Historic District is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Centerville Historic District compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Centerville Historic District
Average noise levels for Centerville Historic District residents, grouped by direction from the center of Centerville Historic District. Central Centerville Historic District carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Centerville Historic District carries the lowest. Just 14% of residents in Western Centerville Historic District live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Central Centerville Historic District.
Central Centerville Historic District
41% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Centerville Historic District
35% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Centerville Historic District
24% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Centerville Historic District
24% of people above 55 dBA
Western Centerville Historic District
14% of people above 55 dBA
Central Centerville Historic District sounds about 41% louder than Western Centerville Historic District to the human ear, a 5.0 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 68 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 Centerville Historic District sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 27% 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.