This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Dover Beaches South 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 105 Dover Beaches South residents, or 20.0%, live above that level. By land area, 28.0% of Dover Beaches South is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Dover Beaches South compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Dover Beaches South
Average noise levels for Dover Beaches South residents, grouped by direction from the center of Dover Beaches South. Western Dover Beaches South carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Dover Beaches South carries the lowest. Just 13% of residents in Eastern Dover Beaches South live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Western Dover Beaches South.
Central Dover Beaches South
16% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Dover Beaches South
13% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Dover Beaches South
60% of people above 55 dBA
Western Dover Beaches South
41% of people above 55 dBA
Western Dover Beaches South sounds about 136% louder than Eastern Dover Beaches South to the human ear, a 12.4 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 71 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 Dover Beaches South sits under tree canopy (much lighter than most cities) and roughly 80% 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.