This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Downtown New Britain 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 3,048 Downtown New Britain residents, or 43.6%, live above that level. By land area, 53.6% of Downtown New Britain is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Downtown New Britain compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Downtown New Britain
Average noise levels for Downtown New Britain residents, grouped by direction from the center of Downtown New Britain. Central Downtown New Britain carries the highest population-weighted average; Western Downtown New Britain carries the lowest. Just 29% of residents in Western Downtown New Britain live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Central Downtown New Britain.
Central Downtown New Britain
65% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Downtown New Britain
22% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Downtown New Britain
48% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Downtown New Britain
48% of people above 55 dBA
Western Downtown New Britain
29% of people above 55 dBA
Central Downtown New Britain sounds about 49% louder than Western Downtown New Britain to the human ear, a 5.8 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 State Hwy 9 do you need to be?
State Hwy 9 produces an estimated 75 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 37% of Downtown New Britain sits under tree canopy (much heavier than most neighborhoods) and roughly 46% 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.