This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Cottle County 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 97 Cottle County residents, or 16.1%, live above that level. By land area, 4.8% of Cottle County is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Cottle County compares to similar-sized counties.
Noise by Part of Cottle County
Average noise levels for Cottle County residents, grouped by direction from the center of Cottle County. Central Cottle County carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern Cottle County carries the lowest. Just 0% of residents in Northern Cottle County live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Cottle County.
Central Cottle County
71% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Cottle County
0% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Cottle County
0% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Cottle County
24% of people above 55 dBA
Western Cottle County
0% of people above 55 dBA
Central Cottle County sounds about 294% louder than Northern Cottle County to the human ear, a 19.8 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 do you need to be?
produces an estimated 61 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 Cottle County sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most counties) 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.