This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Cocoa West 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 1,364 Cocoa West residents, or 20.4%, live above that level. By land area, 27.3% of Cocoa West is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Cocoa West compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Cocoa West
Average noise levels for Cocoa West residents, grouped by direction from the center of Cocoa West. Western Cocoa West carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Cocoa West carries the lowest. Just 13% of residents in Eastern Cocoa West live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Western Cocoa West.
Central Cocoa West
10% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Cocoa West
13% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Cocoa West
23% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Cocoa West
21% of people above 55 dBA
Western Cocoa West
33% of people above 55 dBA
Western Cocoa West sounds about 69% louder than Eastern Cocoa West to the human ear, a 7.6 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 I-95 do you need to be?
I-95 produces an estimated 77 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 21% of Cocoa West sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 26% 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.