This map shows modeled outdoor noise across City in the Hills 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 965 City in the Hills residents, or 33.4%, live above that level. By land area, 38.9% of City in the Hills is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in City in the Hills compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of City in the Hills
Average noise levels for City in the Hills residents, grouped by direction from the center of City in the Hills. Southern City in the Hills carries the highest population-weighted average; Western City in the Hills carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Western City in the Hills live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Southern City in the Hills.
Central City in the Hills
31% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern City in the Hills
24% of people above 55 dBA
Northern City in the Hills
30% of people above 55 dBA
Southern City in the Hills
81% of people above 55 dBA
Western City in the Hills
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern City in the Hills sounds about 145% louder than Western City in the Hills to the human ear, a 12.9 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 73 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 City in the Hills sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 51% 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.