This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Downtown Jamestown 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 3,997 Downtown Jamestown residents, or 49.2%, live above that level. By land area, 55.2% of Downtown Jamestown is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Downtown Jamestown compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Downtown Jamestown
Average noise levels for Downtown Jamestown residents, grouped by direction from the center of Downtown Jamestown. Central Downtown Jamestown carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern Downtown Jamestown carries the lowest. Just 11% of residents in Eastern Downtown Jamestown live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a third of the share in Central Downtown Jamestown.
Central Downtown Jamestown
53% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Downtown Jamestown
11% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Downtown Jamestown
52% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Downtown Jamestown
55% of people above 55 dBA
Western Downtown Jamestown
51% of people above 55 dBA
Central Downtown Jamestown sounds about 29% louder than Eastern Downtown Jamestown to the human ear, a 3.7 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 Washington St do you need to be?
Washington St produces an estimated 64 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 31% of Downtown Jamestown sits under tree canopy (heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 40% 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.