This map shows modeled outdoor noise across El Dorado 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 4,080 El Dorado Hills residents, or 12.8%, live above that level. By land area, 16.8% of El Dorado Hills is above 55 dBA.
See how noise in El Dorado Hills compares to similar-sized cities.
Noise by Part of El Dorado Hills
Average noise levels for El Dorado Hills residents, grouped by direction from the center of El Dorado Hills. Southern El Dorado Hills carries the highest population-weighted average; Eastern El Dorado Hills carries the lowest. Just 5% of residents in Eastern El Dorado Hills live in blocks above the EPA's 55 dBA threshold, about half the share in Southern El Dorado Hills.
Central El Dorado Hills
14% of people above 55 dBA
Eastern El Dorado Hills
5% of people above 55 dBA
Northern El Dorado Hills
14% of people above 55 dBA
Southern El Dorado Hills
14% of people above 55 dBA
Western El Dorado Hills
11% of people above 55 dBA
Southern El Dorado Hills sounds about 100% louder than Eastern El Dorado Hills to the human ear, a 10.0 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 Hwy 50 do you need to be?
US Hwy 50 produces an estimated 78 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 14% of El Dorado Hills sits under tree canopy (lighter than most cities) and roughly 31% 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.