This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Dunes City 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 142 Dunes City residents, or 10.7%, live above that level. By land area, 14.8% of Dunes City is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Dunes City compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of Dunes City
Average noise levels for Dunes City residents, grouped by direction from the center of Dunes City. Central Dunes City carries the highest population-weighted average; Southern Dunes City carries the lowest. Just 11% of residents in Southern Dunes City live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Central Dunes City.
Central Dunes City
100% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern Dunes City
7% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Dunes City
11% of people above 55 dBA
Southern Dunes City
11% of people above 55 dBA
Western Dunes City
7% of people above 55 dBA
Central Dunes City sounds about 74% louder than Southern Dunes City to the human ear, a 8.0 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 Route 101 do you need to be?
US Route 101 produces an estimated 62 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 51% of Dunes City sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 12% 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.