This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Central Pacolet 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 14 Central Pacolet residents, or 4.7%, live above that level. By land area, 9.2% of Central Pacolet is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Central Pacolet compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Central Pacolet
Average noise levels for Central Pacolet residents, grouped by direction from the center of Central Pacolet. Western Central Pacolet carries the highest population-weighted average; Central Central Pacolet carries the lowest. Just 4% of residents in Central Central Pacolet live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Western Central Pacolet.
Central Central Pacolet
4% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Central Pacolet
20% of people above 55 dBA
Western Central Pacolet
12% of people above 55 dBA
Western Central Pacolet sounds about 39% louder than Central Central Pacolet to the human ear, a 4.8 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 N Hwy 150 do you need to be?
N Hwy 150 produces an estimated 54 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 34% of Central Pacolet sits under tree canopy (about average for 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.