This map shows modeled outdoor noise across City of Creede 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 58 City of Creede residents, or 26.1%, live above that level. By land area, 29.5% of City of Creede is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in City of Creede compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of City of Creede
Average noise levels for City of Creede residents, grouped by direction from the center of City of Creede. Northern City of Creede carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern City of Creede carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Southern City of Creede live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Northern City of Creede.
Central City of Creede
31% of people above 55 dBA
Northern City of Creede
36% of people above 55 dBA
Southern City of Creede
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern City of Creede sounds about 271% louder than Southern City of Creede to the human ear, a 18.9 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 SH-149 do you need to be?
SH-149 produces an estimated 52 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 1% of City of Creede sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 37% 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.