This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Downtown Brownsville 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 1,406 Downtown Brownsville residents, or 54.5%, live above that level. By land area, 57.4% of Downtown Brownsville is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Downtown Brownsville compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Downtown Brownsville
Average noise levels for Downtown Brownsville residents, grouped by direction from the center of Downtown Brownsville. Southern Downtown Brownsville carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Downtown Brownsville carries the lowest. Just 45% of residents in Western Downtown Brownsville live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Southern Downtown Brownsville.
Central Downtown Brownsville
41% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Downtown Brownsville
65% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Downtown Brownsville
36% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Downtown Brownsville
100% of people above 55 dBA
Western Downtown Brownsville
45% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Downtown Brownsville sounds about 37% louder than Western Downtown Brownsville to the human ear, a 4.5 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 US Hwy 83 do you need to be?
US Hwy 83 produces an estimated 66 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 5% of Downtown Brownsville sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 53% 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.