This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Del Rey Oaks 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 1,361 Del Rey Oaks residents, or 74.0%, live above that level. By land area, 71.6% of Del Rey Oaks is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Del Rey Oaks compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Del Rey Oaks
Average noise levels for Del Rey Oaks residents, grouped by direction from the center of Del Rey Oaks. Southern Del Rey Oaks carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Del Rey Oaks carries the lowest. Just 76% of residents in Western Del Rey Oaks live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in Southern Del Rey Oaks.
Central Del Rey Oaks
71% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Del Rey Oaks
84% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Del Rey Oaks
100% of people above 55 dBA
Western Del Rey Oaks
76% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Del Rey Oaks sounds about 171% louder than Western Del Rey Oaks to the human ear, a 14.4 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 88 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 quiet office to normal conversation.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 15% of Del Rey Oaks sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 48% 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.