This map shows modeled outdoor noise across East Side Capistrano 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 2,768 East Side Capistrano residents, or 47.5%, live above that level. By land area, 65.4% of East Side Capistrano is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in East Side Capistrano compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of East Side Capistrano
Average noise levels for East Side Capistrano residents, grouped by direction from the center of East Side Capistrano. Western East Side Capistrano carries the highest population-weighted average; Northern East Side Capistrano carries the lowest. Just 11% of residents in Northern East Side Capistrano live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, a fifth of the share in Western East Side Capistrano.
Central East Side Capistrano
41% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern East Side Capistrano
44% of people above 55 dBA
Northern East Side Capistrano
11% of people above 55 dBA
Southern East Side Capistrano
55% of people above 55 dBA
Western East Side Capistrano
71% of people above 55 dBA
Western East Side Capistrano sounds about 332% louder than Northern East Side Capistrano to the human ear, a 21.1 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 San Diego Fwy do you need to be?
San Diego Fwy produces an estimated 79 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 quiet suburban street at night.
Calculated from the model's calibrated attenuation formula. About 9% of East Side Capistrano sits under tree canopy (lighter than most neighborhoods) and roughly 42% 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.