This map shows modeled outdoor noise across Eastern Hills 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 1,327 Eastern Hills residents, or 27.5%, live above that level. By land area, 33.9% of Eastern Hills is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in Eastern Hills compares to similar-sized neighborhoods.
Noise by Part of Eastern Hills
Average noise levels for Eastern Hills residents, grouped by direction from the center of Eastern Hills. The highest population-weighted average is in southern Eastern Hills; the lowest is in northern Eastern Hills, where just 25% of residents live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about two-thirds of the share in the loudest section.
Southern Eastern Hills
38% of people above 55 dBA
Southeastern Eastern Hills
38% of people above 55 dBA
Northeastern Eastern Hills
25% of people above 55 dBA
Central Eastern Hills
17% of people above 55 dBA
Northern Eastern Hills
25% of people above 55 dBA
To the human ear, noise in southern Eastern Hills sounds about 120% louder than in northern Eastern Hills, a 11.4 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 Hwy 35 do you need to be?
US Hwy 35 produces an estimated 71 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 25% of Eastern Hills 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.