This map shows modeled outdoor noise across East Hampstead 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 182 East Hampstead residents, or 8.1%, live above that level. By land area, 11.5% of East Hampstead is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in East Hampstead compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of East Hampstead
Average noise levels for East Hampstead residents, grouped by direction from the center of East Hampstead. The highest population-weighted average is in southwestern East Hampstead; the lowest is in northwestern East Hampstead, where just 8% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, three-quarters of the share in the loudest section.
Southwestern East Hampstead
10% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern East Hampstead
8% of people above 55 dBA
Southern East Hampstead
8% of people above 55 dBA
Northwestern East Hampstead
8% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southwestern East Hampstead sounds about 12% louder than in northwestern East Hampstead, a 1.6 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 121A do you need to be?
121A produces an estimated 59 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 55% of East Hampstead sits under tree canopy (heavier than most cities) and roughly 14% 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.